The Nikkei share average climbed 1.1 percent to end the day at 16,652.80.
The U.S. dollar strengthened and ended the Tokyo trading day above 109 yen.
China stocks edged lower in light trade on Tuesday amid worries that Beijing might taper monetary stimulus while it steps up structural and financial reforms even as the economy struggles to gain traction.
The blue-chip CSI300 index fell 0.3 percent to 3,086.02, and the Shanghai Composite Index was likewise down 0.3 percent. to 2,843.68.
President Xi Jinping said on Monday that China will push forward supply-side reform and increase the number of middle-income earners.
Xi's remarks, which came after disappointing economic data for April, reinforced expectations that Beijing is reluctant to use further monetary stimulus to stoke growth even as a nascent economic recovery peters out.
Hong Kong stocks rose on Tuesday, encouraged by upbeat U.S. and Asian markets as well as by higher oil prices.
The Hang Seng index closed up 1.2 percent at 20,118.80, while the Hong Kong China Enterprises Index closed up 1.4 percent at 8,425.78.
Investors took cues from sharp gains on Wall Street on Monday, which was partly fuelled by a jump in Apple shares.
Reference: REUTERS
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