Monbetsu City, Hokkaido, which independently observes drift ice, announced the ``first day of drift ice'' on the 19th, saying that drift ice had been confirmed offshore.
Monbetsu City has been conducting its own drift ice observations for the past 16 years, following the closure of the weather observatory's weather station.
Around 8 a.m. on the 19th, Mombetsu City announced the ``first day of drift ice'' as it was possible to visually confirm the presence of drift ice offshore from the third floor of the Okhotsk Tower at the tip of the breakwater in Mombetsu City.
Monbetsu City's ``first day of drift ice'' was observed 17 days earlier than last year and 5 days earlier than normal.
In response to this, the drift ice sightseeing boat "Garinko" with over 40 tourists on board departed Mombetsu Port at noon, aiming to sail through drift ice for the first time this season.
Approximately 10 minutes after leaving port, we arrived at a drift ice zone about 3 kilometers off the coast of Monbetsu City.
Drift ice can be as large as 5 meters wide and 10 to 20 centimeters thick, and as Garinko breaks through the ice with a drill at the tip, tourists take photos and enjoy the majestic view. I was enjoying the scenery.
A couple in their 30s who came from Tokyo for sightseeing said, ``When we saw the drift ice for the first time, it was so impressive and amazing.I was really impressed by how big it was.''
According to the Abashiri Local Meteorological Observatory, drift ice is expected to move south in the Okhotsk region through the 21st, and Abashiri City's ``first day of drift ice'' may be announced as early as the next few days.