FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — The first aurora borealis seekers from Japan have arrived in Alaska’s interior to launch the unofficial beginning of the northern lights viewing season.

The first Japan Airlines flight of the season landed in Fairbanks on Wednesday with 174 passengers. The flight from Narita Airport near Tokyo is the first of six Japan Airlines charters scheduled to arrive in Fairbanks through Sept. 18, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported (http://is.gd/0k8g9n ).