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'.
In the Edo period, establishments called aimaiya existed outside the licensed pleasure quarters.
Compound of 曖昧 (aimai, 'ambiguous, vague') and 屋 (ya, 'shop, establishment'), referring to a business whose true nature is unclear.