The nature of surface deformation of Tono granite was investigated using a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) under water-saturated stress relaxation conditions. A new apparatus was developed for this experiment, enabling continuous measurements of stress-strain and simultaneous observations of surface deformation by CLSM. The amounts of grain contact deformation and intra-granular surface deformation were calculated using a finite element method. The results reveal that intense grain contact deformation and intra-granular surface deformation occurred during the period of stress relaxation, and that the intensity of this deformation increased with increasing applied stress. Finite element method (FEM) results show that the strain of grain boundary was greater than strain of inter-granular surface. Contour maps of these local strains were compiled for individual grains and their boundaries, revealing intense deformation at the boundaries between biotite and quartz under compressional stress. This result was a consequence of the mechano-chemical effect of biotite and quartz minerals. Biotite in granite has a layered structure of iron-magnesium-aluminum silicate sheets that are weakly bonded together by layers of potassium ions. In contrast, quartz occurs as stable spherical grains.