The Tokyo Metropolitan Government says cedar pollen season in the capital started on Friday last week.

Tokyo officials made the announcement on Monday.

Officials observed cedar pollen counts at 12 spots in the capital. They found that the amounts of pollen from Friday through Sunday in Ome, Tama and Tachikawa cities exceeded a benchmark level.

They say the pollen season arrived five days earlier than last year. It also came five days earlier than the average date for the past 10 years.

They also say the amounts of cedar and Japanese cypress pollen in the capital this spring are projected to be 2.7 times that of last year. The figure will be the second highest in the past decade.

Tokyo officials are calling on residents to take measures such as wearing masks and glasses when they go out on days when a lot of pollen is expected.