short arched fence around townhouse walls; bamboo fence protecting lower walls
A traditional curved bamboo or wooden fence placed at the base of machiya townhouse walls, especially in Kyoto, to prevent damage from rain, mud, and passersby.
Inuyarai are often seen on the outer walls of Kyoto machiya townhouses.
The term combines 犬 (dog) and 矢来 (fence, palisade). The exact origin is uncertain, but it may refer to the fence's function of keeping dogs away from the walls, or to its resemblance to a traditional arrow fence.