Locals and tourists have enjoyed themselves at the first official beach-opening of the year on an island in the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa.

They gathered on Saturday for the opening ceremony at an artificial beach on Ishigaki Island.

After praying for safety, beachgoers watched high school students perform Okinawa's traditional Ryukyu dance.

The morning sky was blue over the island on the opening day, and temperatures exceeded 25 degrees Celsius.

People in the sea playfully splashed each other with water.

One visitor said he would come to the beach more often as the weather grows warmer.

A fifth-grader who came with his family from Fukuoka City said the water was cold, but that he had a great time.

More beaches will open in Okinawa toward the end of April.