British Prince William arrived here Thursday on a four-day visit aiming at boosting economic and cultural exchanges between Britain and Japan.

During his visit to Japan, the prince will tour disaster- affected areas in the northeastern part of the country. He is scheduled to spend time with local people in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, and Miyagi Prefecture's Ishinomaki and Onagawa, both of the coastal cities were affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

After arriving at Tokyo, Governor Yoichi Masuzoe accompanied the prince at the vicinity of the venues of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Prince William planned to visit Commonwealth war graves in Yokohama and to attend a trade fair for British products in Tokyo.

The visit is the prince's first trip here and his wife Catherine, who is expecting their second child, is not accompanying him.

The prince will leave Japan Sunday for China through March 4.

The last visit to Japan by the British royal family members was in late 2013 by Prince Andrew. Prince William's father Charles visited Japan in 2008 and his late mother Princess Diana's last visit was in 1995.