noun
brothel disguised as a legitimate business
Historical term for an establishment that operated as a brothel while pretending to be a tea house, inn, restaurant, or similar business. The name literally means 'ambiguous shop'.
江戸時代には、曖昧屋と呼ばれる店が遊郭の外にも存在した。
In the Edo period, establishments called aimaiya existed outside the licensed pleasure quarters.