Kagawa Prefecture: Even on days when rain is forecast, it somehow turns sunny
May 24, 2025.
The forecast for the Setouchi region that day was "heavy rain from morning until evening."
However, contrary to the forecast, it hardly rained at all in Kagawa Prefecture.
On this day, I had planned to go to Ritsurin Garden , Tamamo Park (Takamatsu Castle Ruins) , and Shimotsui in Okayama Prefecture to film videos. However, the heavy rain I had hoped for never materialized, and I was only able to film at Tamamo Park. It was a completely unexpected turn of events, especially since I had gone there to film "Rainy Setouchi."
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 straddle 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 (towards Kochi and Tokushima Prefectures) and does not easily reach Kagawa Prefecture on the northern side.
In other words, Kagawa Prefecture has a geographical feature that provides a " natural rain cover ." As long as this topography exists, even on days when there is heavy rain throughout the country, it is not uncommon for Kagawa to only experience 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 rainfall, it has historically suffered from severe water shortages, and as a countermeasure, it has the largest number of reservoirs in the country . It is said that there are more than 15,000 reservoirs of all sizes within the prefecture.
Given this historical background, rain is a precious thing for the people of Kagawa Prefecture.
For me, who photographs rainy day scenery, shooting in Kagawa is like a test of patience against the weather.
This shoot and the days waiting for rain
Unfortunately, on this day, I was only able to take photos at Tamamo Park (Takamatsu Castle Ruins).
Despite having prepared my rain gear and camera, I was unable to capture my goal of photographing the "Rainy Setouchi."
Nevertheless, filming at Tamamo Park yielded many new discoveries.
The moat's surface reflecting the sky, the gently swaying pine branches, and the occasional sound of the sea breeze—
even without heavy rain, I think you can feel the "quiet time" that is characteristic of the Setouchi region.
summary
Kagawa Prefecture is a prefecture where it rarely rains due to its topography and climate . Therefore, to film rainy scenery, you have to keep a close eye on the weather. But that's precisely why a single video of rain is so valuable.
In Kagawa, a prefecture known for its lack of rain, I'm hoping to finally capture some real rain on camera.
With that thought in mind, I'm checking the weather forecast and searching for my next shooting location today.
