Where the Stones of Osaka Castle Were Cut
The Osaka Castle Stone Wall Quarry Sites (Shodoshima and Higashi-Rokko) (大坂城石垣石丁場跡／小豆島石丁場跡／東六甲石丁場跡) is the sites of quarries where stone was cut for the walls of Osaka Castle when the Tokugawa shogunate rebuilt it; the Shodoshima quarries in Shodoshima Town, Kagawa Prefecture, were designated a Historic Site in 1972.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs lists them under the criteria for political sites and for sites of production; in 2018 the designation was extended to include the Higashi-Rokko quarries in Hyogo Prefecture.
The Agency explains that the shogunate's rebuilding of Osaka Castle, from the Genna to the Kanbun eras, was imposed on the daimyo, said to number 64 lords from 35 provinces.
The Quarries
According to the Agency, Shodoshima had been known as a source of wall stone since Hideyoshi's castle, and in the Kan'ei era the Kuroda and Hosokawa domains cut and shipped much stone from it. The Tengu-iwa, Minamidani, Tofu, Hachininishi and Kamezaki quarries and associated shore quarries survive, with abandoned stones and stones bearing marks throughout.
Shodoshima Town notes that the mountains and shore of Iwaya hold many wall stones and boulders with wedge holes about 10 centimetres across and marks, 1,612 in all across six quarries. More than forty kinds of mark, such as circles and squares, appear on the dressed stones, some identical to those on today's Osaka Castle walls.
What to Look For
Shodoshima Town explains that documents show the Iwaya quarries were worked by Kuroda Nagamasa and his son Tadayuki, lords of Fukuoka, when Osaka Castle was rebuilt under Tokugawa Hidetada and Iemitsu, and that the family kept a guard there until the end of the Edo period.
The Agency values the quarries as telling the history and techniques of building Osaka Castle.
Visiting the Osaka Castle Stone Wall Quarry Sites (Shodoshima and Higashi-Rokko)
Shodoshima Town says the Tengu-iwa and Hachininishi quarries, which have paths, can be visited at any time, and the Tengu-iwa shore quarry can be seen from the national road. The Minamidani, Kamezaki and Tofu-ishi quarries have no paths and are steep; visits are not recommended and require a guide.
Enquiries: Shodoshima Town lifelong learning section, 0879-82-7015.
Q&A
- When were the quarries designated?
- Shodoshima in 1972; Higashi-Rokko was added in 2018.
- Who cut the stone on Shodoshima?
- Kuroda Nagamasa and Tadayuki, lords of Fukuoka.
- What remains?
- 1,612 wall stones and boulders with wedge holes and marks in six quarries.
- What marks are there?
- More than forty kinds, some matching those on Osaka Castle.
- Can I visit?
- The Tengu-iwa and Hachininishi quarries have paths and are always open.
Basic Information
| Name | Osaka Castle Stone Wall Quarry Sites (Shodoshima and Higashi-Rokko) (大坂城石垣石丁場跡／小豆島石丁場跡／東六甲石丁場跡) |
|---|---|
| Location | Shodoshima Town, Shozu District, Kagawa Prefecture, and other areas |
| Designation | Historic Site |
| Year Designated | Designated 1972/3/16 (Showa 47) |
| Quantity | Quarry sites |
| Dimensions | Not recorded in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database |
| Owner | Not recorded in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database |
| Public Access | Some quarries open at any time |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Osaka Castle Stone Wall Quarry Sites (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/401/2523
- Cultural Heritage Online: Osaka Castle Stone Wall Quarry Sites (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/191842
- Shodoshima Town: Shodoshima Quarry Sites (Japanese)
- https://www.town.shodoshima.lg.jp/gyousei/kakuka/shogaigakushuka/2/1/2701.html
Last verified: 2026.09.29