SitemapDams, Canals Shikoku Area
Kagawa Canal
| Purpose |
|
|---|---|
| Benefited Area |
|
| Facilities | Water intake facilities (Intake Works, main canal Length= approx. 8.04km) Canal facilities (Eastern main canal: L= approx. 34.67km, Takase Lateral Canal L=approx. 3.88km) Regulationg pond (Bank height :25.0m, Effective storage capacity: 3,050km³) |
| Completion | 1974 |
| Details | Kagawa Canal project was implemented as part of Yoshio River system water resources development plan. Making use of flowing water of Yoshino River sourced from Sameura Dam, the canal was constructed to supply approx. 23,670 ha of farmland in Kagawa Prefecture with irrigation water, 13 municipalities of Kagawa Prefecture with domestic water, and Sakaide and Marugame regions with industrial water and the construction was completed in 1974. The management operations started in April 1975. |
Koto-chan and Hana-chan
Location
- Address
- Kotohira Town,Kagawa Pref.
- Phone No.
- +81-877-73-4221
- Fax No.
- +81-877-73-2649
*Kagawa Canal Operation and Maintenance Office
Access
Train
Approx. 10min. by walking from Kotohira Sta. of JR Dosan Line
Award
Tourist Spots
- Ritsurin Garden
Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, is situated in the central district of Takamatsu City and is one of the beautiful spots for tourist visits selected in Micherin Guide Book. This garden still keeps the trait of "Daimyo Teien" of the 17th to 18th century, or the garden created by the Feudal Lord and is well designed for nice leisurely walk through it with ponds, hills, and beautiful combination of trees and flowers in season.
Photo by "Visit Kagawa" HP
See more ->"Visit Kagawa" Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association- The Kagawa Museum
With the Seto Island Sea to the north, Takamatsu Castle to the west and JR Takamatsu Station within a few minutes walk, the Kagawa Museum I conveniently located for tourists and the locals alike. This prefectural museum exhibits historical articles, artifacts and folklore customs related to Kagawa Prefecture and Seto Inland Sea. In addition, there is an exhibit of Kagawa Canal, including the replica of Asan Canal Tunnel and the photo of Kagawa Canal taken from a satellite.
Photo by "Visit Kagawa" HP
See more ->"Visit Kagawa" Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association- Kotohira (or Konpira) Shrine
Kotohira Shrine or Konpira Shrine has been a very polular spot for pilgrims and worshippers, especially from maritime workers because the enshirined deity is the sea deity. This shrine is also a very popular spot now among both domestic and international tourists as the shrine which is hard to reach as there are 1,363 steps that have to be climbed before reaching the main shrine hall. But is is fun, too, because of many important cultural assets and artworks are exhibited in the halls as well as UDON (noodle) and souvenir shops along the above pilgrimage path.
Photo by "Visit Kagawa" HP
See more ->"Visit Kagawa" Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association- "Sanuki Udon" Noodle shops
Ramen noodle is now internationally well known Japanese style chinese noodle with diversified types available on the market in Japan and some other parts of the world. However there is a exception. In Sanuki Area, or Kagawa Prefecture, "Sanuki Udon (noodle)" represents this area as their "soul food" (their favorite food). There are thousands of UDON shops in and around Takamatsu and other cities, towns in Kagawa Prefecture. Respective shops have their own specialties and offer their customers fresh and delicious noodles. Why don't you explore and find your favorite ones.
Photo by "Visit Kagawa" HP
See more ->"Visit Kagawa" Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association
Kagawa Yousui (Canal) Commemorative Park
History
The Climate of Kagawa Prefecture shows the typical Seto Inland Sea Climate, which features little annual rainfall. Rivers in Kagawa Prefecture are short in length, so the rain which falls in the prefecture flows into the Seto Inland Sea in a short time. So people have been constructing reservoirs since olden times. Thus the number of reservoirs counted over 14,000 but the water shortage remained to be solved.
After World War II, the Yoshino River Comprehensive Development Plan was implemented under the principle of "Shikoku is one entity." Based on this slogan, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (currently named the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries) and Water Resources Development Public Corporation (currently named Japan Water Agency) carried out Kagawa Canal Construction Project jointly as the way to resolve the fundamental issue of water shortage. It completed in 1974.
To keep the importance of Kagawa Canal and the gratitude for the water source region of Yoshino River in memory, Kagawa prefectural government secured about 6 ha of the land around the canal facilities, and created Kagawa Yousui Commemorative Park, where a stream, varieties of squares and the water museum as a central facility were well laid out to attract visitors. It opened as a prefectural park in May 1997.
Kagawa Canal
(East-West Diversion Works)
Outline of the park and key events
Outline
This park was built to let the residents of Kagawa Prefecture understand the history of Kagawa Canal and deepen the recognition of its benefits as well and pass them for future generations. The park also aims at offering a place for relaxation. Elementary schools in Kagawa Prefecture allot a certain time for the students to learn the importance of water.
Field trip of elementary school students
The Water Museum in the park displays materials such as panels, pictures, dioramas, and the tools actually used to show the importance of water and the current status of Kagawa Canal for easy understanding. So this facility is widely used as a venue for those children to learn a lot about the canal. The park provides the visitors with the opportunities to relax themselves for leisure as it is equipped with a flowering tree garden, flower viewing plaza with playground equipment, and nature trails, etc.
Minaguchi Festival
At the water plaza overlooking the East-West Diversion Works, the "Minaguchi Festival" is held on 11 June every year to pray for the safe and abundant water distribution of the year by Kagawa Canal Land Improvement District. At the end of the ceremony, the president of the Land Improvement District, Kagawa Prefectural Governor, Prefectural Assembly Chair, the head of Yoshino River Headquarters of Japan Water Agency, and Mitoyo City Mayor participate in it and at the end of the ceremony three water columns are raised when Sake, Japanese rice wine is poured into the main canal.
Minaguchi Festival
(with 3 water columns)
After this ceremony, a hoe dance, a lion dance, and drums play are performed in dedication to the god of the shrine. Later Kagawa Prefecture's most favorite delicacy of hand-made Udon noodles will be served to the visitors free of charge.
Coolness Enjoyment Festival on the waterfront
On the first Sunday of August every year, "Coolness Enjoyment Festival on the waterfront" is held in this park. Chugoku-Shikoku Regional Agricultural Administration Office and Kagawa Canal Operation and Maintenance Office of Japan Water Agency joins the festival. There are a lot of visitors coming to this festival every year because Awa Odori (Shikoku Region’s Awa District "Bon" dance performance in procession) and other attractions, as well as interactions with water source area residents, are held.
Coolness Enjoyment Festival on the waterfront
Availability of the park and the museum
The park is open to the public throughout the year, and the Water Museum is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on a free of charge basis except for the year-end and new-year holidays, and every Thursday from December through March. When group tours are made for the elementary and junior high schools in Kagawa Prefecture for their field trips or other group tours from other prefectures are made, the part administration office and the Japan Water Agency usually make arrangements for the guided tours of the facilities, which include explanation of the role of Kagawa Canal and the exhibits of the Water Museum.
Events
Coming soon
