Huge Stones at Sakuramon-masugata Square — Attraction in Osaka

The huge stones are located at Sakuramon-masugata Square, just outside the Sakuramon Gate on the southeastern side of Osaka Castle. This area was originally designed as a fortified square: anyone entering through the gate would find themselves trapped inside high stone walls, making it easy for defenders to attack from above.

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The Giant Stones (Kyoseki)

The most famous is the Takoishi (Octopus Stone), the largest single stone in the castle. It measures about 11.7 meters in length, 5.5 meters in width, and 1.8 meters in height, with an estimated weight of around 130 tons. These stones were transported from distant quarries, such as Shodoshima Island in the Seto Inland Sea and other sites across the Kinki region, using traditional methods that involved wooden sledges, logs, and large teams of workers.

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Purpose and Symbolism • Power and Prestige: Beyond their defensive role, the stones were a symbol of the Tokugawa shogunate’s immense resources and authority when they rebuilt the castle after Toyotomi’s fall. • Psychological Impact: Their sheer size was meant to awe visitors and intimidate potential enemies, serving as a visible demonstration of political strength. • Architectural Mastery: The stones were carefully fitted into the surrounding stone walls (Ishigaki), highlighting the craftsmanship and engineering skills of early modern Japan.

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Legacy Today

Today, the massive stones remain one of the most striking features for visitors to Osaka Castle. Standing before them, people often wonder how such enormous blocks could have been moved and placed with such precision in the 17th century. These stones have become an iconic part of the castle’s visual identity, frequently featured in travel guides and recognized as enduring symbols of Japan’s...

桜門枡形の巨石 蛸石【たこいし】

桜門の内側には、本丸の正面入口を守るため、石垣で四角く囲まれた「枡形」とよばれる区画が設けられ、上部に多聞櫓【たもんやぐら】が建てられた。この枡形は、徳川幕府による大坂城再築工事の第2期工事が始まった寛永元年（1624）、備前岡山藩主池田忠雄【いけだただお】の担当によって築かれ、石材は備前（岡山県）産の花崗岩【かこうがん】が用いられている。正面の石は蛸石【たこいし】とよばれる城内第1位の巨石で、表面積がおよそ36畳敷（59.43平方メートル）、重量は約108トンと推定される。向かって左手の巨石は振袖石【ふりそでいし】（袖石【そでいし】）とよばれ、表面積はおよそ33畳敷（53.85平方メートル）で、城内第3位である。なお、上部の多聞櫓は慶応4年（＝明治元年、1868）、明治維新の大火で焼失した。

Huge stones at Sakuramon-masugata Square To protect the front entrance to the Hommaru (Inner Bailey), a Masugata Square surrounded by a stone wall was created inside the Sakuramon Gate. This stone wall was built during the early Edo period in 1624, by Tadao Ikeda, a feudal lord of Okayama, who was ordered to take charge of this part of the premises by the Tokugawa shogunate. The stone in the front is known as Takoishi, Iiterally, an octopus stone, and is the largest stone in the Osaka Castle, measuring 59.43m2 in surface area and 108t in estimated weight. The huge stone on the observers' left side is the third largest in the Osaka Castle, known as Furisodeishi, meaning long-sleeved...

Tako Ishi from tako meaning "octopus" and ishi meaning "stone" is the biggest stone in Osaka Castle.

It's around 18 feet (5.5 m) high, 38.4 feet (11.7 m) wide and weighs around 108 tons.

Because the pattern on the left looks like an octopus, it was named "Tako."

It had protected the main entrance of Honmaru:...