Quarry visit report 2025 No.3 Okayama Mannari Stone
Mannari Granite — The Pink Granite of Okayama
Field Notes: I Visited the Quarry
I personally visited the Mannari Granite quarry in Okayama City. On the high terrace, vast cut faces of granite were exposed, and the pale pink color intensified in sunlight as feldspar crystals shimmered. Standing on site made it immediately clear why Mannari Granite has been prized for generations.
What Makes Mannari Granite Distinct
- Color & Texture: Subtle pink (“sakura”) tone with fine grains of quartz and feldspar.
- Workability: Even grain and stable structure allow precise carving and finishing.
- Weathering Resistance: Suitable for long-term outdoor use in monuments, lanterns, and architecture.
Geologic Age
Mannari Granite formed in the Late Cretaceous (about 70–80 million years ago), when deep magmas cooled slowly to produce its fine, uniform crystals.
Uses
- Garden & Shrine Ornaments: Japanese stone lanterns (Yukimi, Kasuga), shrine fox statues, gorinto.
- Architecture: Exterior cladding, columns, steps, nameplates, and plazas.
- Sculpture: Selected by renowned artists for its color and polish potential.
Notable Architectural Uses (Examples)
- Ginza Wako Building (Tokyo): Mannari Granite is used in the historic department store building at Ginza 4-chome.
-
Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery (Shinjuku, Tokyo): Mannari Granite specified for exterior stonework.
- Nihonbashi Nameplate Base (Tokyo): The base stone beside the bridge nameplate is Mannari Granite.
- Yasukuni Shrine Approach Lanterns (Tokyo): Large stone lanterns along the approach include Mannari Granite elements.
At a Glance
| Maker / Quarry | Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture (Mannari area) |
|---|---|
| Stone | Mannari Granite (Pink granite) |
| Geologic Age | Late Cretaceous (~70–80 million years) |
| Finish | Polished / Honed / Bush-hammered / Split |
| Typical Uses | Lanterns, statues, steps, cladding, nameplates, sculpture |
| Notes | Fine grain, stable for outdoor applications |
Why Pink Granite Works Outdoors
The tight interlocking crystals in Mannari Granite limit water ingress and micro-cracking. Combined with its fine grain, this yields excellent durability for freeze–thaw and UV exposure compared with softer or more porous stones.
Related Reading
- Oshima Granite — Quarries & Heritage
- Kitagi Granite — Cretaceous Pink-Grey Granite from the Seto Inland Sea
- Mohs Hardness of Granite: What It Means for Outdoor Life
The Mannari Quarry in Okayama Prefecture will be in April 2025.Photographs were taken during a visit to Tokyo in September 2025.