Sakuran (2007)

It's in the same era only on inverted roles on male instead of female and a much classy setting.

Both are about an oiran, both take place in Edo period flourished with Ukiyo culture............................................................

A young kamuro (maid in a brothel) is sold into the red-light district of Yoshiwara and is put under the care of the oiran of the Tamagiku house, Shouhi, who names her Tomeki. The girl is very rebellious, leading to the heads of the household considering her potential future as a successful oiran, as a high-ranking courtesan needs not only beauty and talent but also the tenacity to maintain their position in order to be successful.

Tomeki later takes the name O-Rin as a hikkomi (or courtesan-in-training), and later takes the name Kiyoha, and is considered the most beautiful girl in the Tamagiku household. Her popularity threatens the position of the Tamagiku household's other oiran, Mikumo, which creates great tension between the two. Kiyoha's rivalry with Mikumo is not the only challenge she faces, as the appearance of a young man named Soujiro faces her with the impossibility of finding love in her position.

Toge Nayuta is a professional Shogi player. Her games last for about 10 hours. She also thinks carefully about what she will eat during breaks in the game. Her choices in meals helps her win games.
~~Based on the manga series "Shogi Meshi" by Nagisa Matsumoto

Saimori Miyo was the unfortunate child of a loveless, arranged marriage. After her mother died, her father brought in his lover and her own daughter, Kaya. From then on, Miyo's life was reduced to that of a mere servant. Even worse, while Kaya inherited the family's psychic abilities, Miyo had none—she was truly the daughter with no merit. After years of being treated like dirt, Miyo has learned to keep her head down, hide her pain, and obey every order. So, it comes as no surprise that she is arranged to be married to Kudo Kiyoka, a military captain rumored to be so cruel that he has driven away every one of his potential wives so far. From a painful upbringing to a painful marriage, that's the future that awaits Miyo—or so she thinks. Contrary to her expectations, her new husband is actually kind-hearted. What really awaits Miyo is a blissful, everlasting marriage full of happiness!

This story follows the sweet and “overprotective” newly-wed life between Someya Yukito, a young master of an established inn in Asakusa, and Tsuruoka Io, a pure-hearted female apprentice training to be a chef. Tsuruoka was in the depths of despair until she found solace in the sweet konpeito candy given to her by Someya. Since then, she has earnestly cherished her feelings while training as a chef. Yukito’s affectionate words and actions reserved only Tsuruoka, along with his excessively cute jealousy, create an irresistibly heart-fluttering devotion with a charming gap that’s impossible to resist!

Both are historical movies about courtesans. Theres talk about wanting someone to buy their freedom and one guy is involved with two courtesans, which causes conflict. Both films are visually stunning as well.

Not similar story wise but both movies have great cinematography.
Both are with an historical setting and about old traditions.
The Peking Opera in Farewell My Concubine and Yoshiwara in Japan with its courtesans in Sakuran.
Also the movies are more suitable for a mature audience.

Xiu Xiu, a 15-year-old girl living in the city of Chengdu, moves out to study horses in the countryside with a nomadic Tibetan. She is told that after six months, she will return to take charge of her all-girl cavalry unit. However, she quickly discovers that she is not returning. She learns lessons about life while struggling against corrupt government officials who manipulate her hopes and body. Her only friend is the eunuch horseman, Lao Jin.

Set in the 1960's, high school student Watanabe Toru loses his only friend Kizuki after he commits suicide. Toru, now looking for a new life, enters a university in Tokyo. By chance, Toru meets Kizuki's ex-girlfriend Naoko in the university. They grow close because they both share the same loss. As Toru and Naoko grow even closer, Naoko's sense of loss also grows. After Naoko's 20th birthday, she leaves for a sanitarium in Kyoto. Toru, devastated by the situation, meets pure-hearted Midori during the spring semester. Midori looks like a small animal that just came into the world

Ge Wei Long, a girl from Shanghai, goes to Hong Kong to study. There she lives with her long relative, Aunt Liang who used to live in splendor and extravagance. Corrupted by her new dazzling environment, Ge Wei Long is influenced by her aunt to marry a young man, Qiao Qi Qiao, and become a tool for collecting money. The story depicts the life of socialites during the colonial period in Hong Kong and the tragic fate of ordinary women who try to maintain the status quo.

In Kyoto, soon after the war, Ichika strives to save her family's long established ryoten restaurant from financial crisis. In order to do so, she marries Yamaguchi Amane, who is 15 years younger, in a marriage of convenience

Hanaoka Nao’s mother Yuriko is a single parent and a live-in confectioner at Kogetsuan, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop of long standing. That is how Nao meets Takatsuki Tsubaki, the 6-year-old son of the owner of Kogetsuan, and they become each other’s first loves. However, Tsubaki’s father is stabbed to death by someone. Nao’s mother is arrested as the suspect based on Tsubaki’s statement. Nao is kicked out while her mother passes away while under interrogation. Now daughter of a murder suspect and son of the victim, Nao and Tsubaki separate with ill feelings for each other. More than 15 years later, Nao and Tsubaki are reunited at a competition on Japanese confectionery. Tsubaki takes an interest in Nao’s creations and asks her to marry him at their first meeting without realising that she is his childhood friend. Nao hides her true identity and decides to get into Kogetsuan through her marriage to Tsubaki in order to prove her mother’s innocence. Little does she know that all sorts of adverse circumstances lie in wait. Despite being made sport of by cruel fate, Nao and Tsubaki are drawn to each other. What is the truth of the case 15 years ago?

Both stories have protagonists who are sex workers. They have a grungy and romantic element to their stories as well.

High school student Watanuki Kimihiro has the ability to see spirits and monsters but is actually plagued with them. Coming home one day, he’s once again assailled by evil apparitions but his feet lead him to a strange shop. There he encounters Ichihara Yuko, the mysterious owner who offers to grant Watanuki’s wish to be rid of the spirits. But the price must be of equal value, so Watanuki has to temporarily work for her in her shop that grant wishes. Thus begins his adventures in an world full of supernatural experiences.