8Tenguiwa Quarry Site
The Tenguiwa quarries in the Iwagatani district supplied stone for the walls of Osaka Castle in the Edo period. The quarry group, which is designated as a national historic site, conveys the atmosphere of the stonecutting culture around that time. The quarries were opened by the Kuroda daimyo of the Fukuoka domain, in order to contribute to the rebuilding of Osaka Castle during the 1620s. There are six quarries in the group: Tenguiwa, Tenguiwa-iso, Minamitani, Tofuishi, Kamesaki, and Hachinin-ishi.
The prominent feature of the Tenguiwa quarry is the Otenguiwa monolith, 17 meters high and weighing estimated 1700 tons. In addition, more than 1600 stone blocks can be seen in the whole Iwagatani district. These sites are precious resources for witnessing the masonry techniques of the Edo period.
The prominent feature of the Tenguiwa quarry is the Otenguiwa monolith, 17 meters high and weighing estimated 1700 tons. In addition, more than 1600 stone blocks can be seen in the whole Iwagatani district. These sites are precious resources for witnessing the masonry techniques of the Edo period.