Kagawa Prefecture: Even on days when rain is forecast, it somehow turns sunny
May 24, 2025.
The Setouchi region was forecast to experience heavy rain from morning until evening on this day.
However, contrary to the forecast, there was almost no rain in Kagawa Prefecture.
On this day, I had planned to go to
Ritsurin Garden , Tamamo Park (Takamatsu Castle ruins) Shimotsui in Okayama Prefecture However, the rain I had hoped for didn't come thick and fast, and I was only able to shoot at Tamamo Park. This
was an unexpected turn of events, even though I had gone to shoot "Setouchi in the rain."
The "rain blocking phenomenon" caused by the Shikoku Mountains
Why was Kagawa Prefecture the only prefecture in Shikoku that escaped the rain?
The reason lies in the Shikoku Mountains
Kagawa Prefecture is located on the northern side of the Shikoku Mountains, which rise along the border with Tokushima Prefecture.
Large rain clouds coming from the south collide with these mountains and are blocked, so most of the rain falls on the southern side of the mountains (on the Kochi and Tokushima prefecture sides), and it is difficult for it to reach Kagawa Prefecture to the north.
In other words, Kagawa Prefecture has a
natural rain umbrella As a result of this topography, even on days when it rains heavily across the country, Kagawa is often the only place that sees cloudy skies.
A prefecture known for its "low rainfall"
In fact, Kagawa Prefecture has long been known as
the prefecture with the least rainfall in Japan Due to the low amount of rainfall, the region has long suffered from serious water shortages, and as a countermeasure, the prefecture has the most reservoirs in the country .
It is said that there are over 15,000 reservoirs, both large and small, in the prefecture.
With this historical background, rain is a precious thing for the people of Kagawa Prefecture.
For me, who shoots landscapes on rainy days, shooting in Kagawa is like a test of endurance against the weather.
This shoot and the days waiting for rain
Unfortunately, I was only able to take photos at Tamamo Park (Takamatsu Castle ruins) that day.
Even though I had taken the trouble to prepare my rain gear and camera, I was unable to capture my goal of capturing the rainy Setouchi.
Even so, the footage of Tamamo Park was full of new discoveries.
The surface of the moat reflecting the sky, the gently swaying pine branches, and the sound of the occasional sea breeze.
Even without heavy rain, I think you can feel the "quiet time" that is so characteristic of the Seto Inland Sea.
summary
Due to its topography and climate, Kagawa Prefecture a prefecture where it rarely rains .
Therefore, in order to film rainy scenes, you have to constantly check the weather.
However, this is precisely why a single "rain video" is so valuable.
Next time, I want to capture real rain in Kagawa, the "prefecture where it never rains."
With this thought in mind, I am once again checking the weather forecast and searching for my next shooting location.
