Since 1988, it has been officially defined as a legal profession and prostitutes joined the Service Sector Union. They have been required to pay income taxes since 1996. Prostitutes are not registered and are not required to get health checks. Pimping and facilitating prostitution is illegal. Brothels advertise openly.
Cities can regulate prostitution as they see fit.
In practice, they often confine street prostitution to certain parts of town and impose conditions on brothels. The PIC distributes brochures, answers questions, and teaches seminars to prostitutes, clients, their spouses, tourists, and school classes. Their goal is to see prostitution fully accepted by society as a professional calling. More details are available. Even soft drugs such as Marihuana are technically illegal to sell, buy, or possess.