Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived 2 hours behind schedule at Japan's Ube Airport in Yamaguchi prefecture for talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The two leaders will meet in Abe's constituency in southwest Japan on Thursday and again in Tokyo on Friday. They are expected to discuss territorial disputes over islands in the western Pacific.

Ahead of his visit, Putin told Japanese media no territorial disputes exist between the two countries. 30 economic cooperation deals are also expected to be signed.

Abe faces criticism for offering to strengthen economic ties with Russia in exchange for the disputed islands. Putin hopes to clinch deals with Japanese companies, in response to sanctions imposed on Russia by Japan and some western countries for the country's role in the Ukraine conflict.