noun
erotic tea house; brothel disguised as a tea house
Historical term for an Edo-period establishment that outwardly resembled a teahouse but employed prostitutes. Compare with 水茶屋, a legitimate teahouse.
See also: 水茶屋
江戸時代には、色茶屋と呼ばれる遊郭まがいの茶屋があった。
In the Edo period, there were tea houses called irojaya that were essentially brothels.