Phrase "in sunny Hokkaido"

[Guinevere]

Voter turnout was sluggish amid poor weather nationwide. It was either rainy or cloudy throughout most of Japan, except in sunny Hokkaido, evidently discouraging people–especially the so-called “floating voters.”

(1) except in sunny Hokkaido
(2) except in a sunny Hokkaido

Hi. Is (2) also possible in the context?

[Mister_Micawber]

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Already taken care of here (before the mystery deletions) and elsewhere.
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