Officials at the weather observatory at Abashiri City in Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido say ice floes have reached the coast for the first time this season.

They confirmed at 9:45 a.m. on Monday that the ice floes arrived, blocking navigation of ordinary vessels in the area.

The phenomenon occurred 13 days earlier than usual and 19 days earlier than last year.

An NHK camera in the city shows white ice floes drifting around the shore on the Sea of Okhotsk and being swayed by waves.

The city of Mombetsu and the nature center in the town of Shari also observed that drift ice had reached their coasts by Sunday.

The observation marks the start of the ice floe sightseeing season on Hokkaido's northeastern coast.

A tourist boat, Aurora, made its way back to its terminal on the Abashiri River after a trip to observe ice floes on Monday. It took the vessel longer than usual to dock because the river was filled with drift ice.

A couple in their 30s from Tokyo said they were going to see ice floes for the first time. They said they were taking a boat tour and looking forward to seeing the beautiful scenery.