The story opens on Oharu as an old woman in a temple flashing back through the events of her life. It begins with her love affair with a page, Katsunosuke, the result of which is his execution and her family's banishment. Oharu attempts suicide but fails and is sold to be the mistress of Lord Matsudaira with the hope she will bear him a son. She does, but then is sent home with minimal compensation to the dismay of her father, who has worked up quite a debt in the meantime. He sends her to be a courtesan, but there, too, she fails and is again sent home. She goes to serve the family of a woman who must hide the fact that she is bald from her husband. The woman becomes jealous of Oharu and makes her chop off her hair, but Oharu retaliates, revealing the woman's secret. She again must leave—this time she marries a fan maker who is killed shortly after during a robbery. She attempts to become a nun, but Oharu is thrown out after being caught naked with a man seeking reimbursement for an unauthorized gift. She is thrown out of the temple, becomes a prostitute, but fails even at that. In the end, she is recalled to the Lord's house in order to keep secret her activities and to be exiled within the compounds to keep her secrets locked away. While being scolded for the life she chose, she attempts to find her son, and in the process, ends up running away as she chooses the life of a wandering nun over the life in exile.
Kinuyo Tanaka as Oharu – The protagonist whose bad luck and misfortune lead to various struggles in life.
Tsukie Matsuura as Tomo, Oharu's Mother – A kind character in the film; her mother tended to side with Oharu and did not wish to see her become a courtesan.
Ichirō Sugai as Shinzaemon, Oharu's Father – Oharu's father was consumed by desire for money and social status. His misjudgments about Oharu caused much of her downfall.
Toshiro Mifune as Katsunosuke – A page who courted Oharu and they fell into a forbidden love. He is beheaded once their relationship is discovered.
Toshiaki Konoe as Lord Harutaka Matsudaira – He takes Oharu as a mistress in order to bear a child heir. Unfortunately for Oharu, he falls in love with Oharu and his wife's jealousy causes her dismissal.
Hisako Yamane as Lady Matsudaira – The wife of Harutaka Matsudaira who, because of her jealousy of her husband's love for Oharu, banishes her.
Jūkichi Uno as Yakichi Ogiya – He was a respected fan maker who married Oharu, however, he is tragically murdered shortly into their marriage.
