Burmese President Thein Sein has arrived in Japan for a five-day visit expected to focus on financial aid and debt relief.
His visit, the first to Japan by a Burmese leader in 28 years, comes as EU nations prepare to ease sanctions.
Reports said Japan was planning to resume loans to Burma.
Thein Sein's administration has embarked on a process of reform since it came to power in November 2010, ending decades of military rule.
The military-backed nominally civilian government has freed political prisoners and made concessions that have brought pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party back into the political process.
Earlier this month, her party won 43 out of the 45 seats it contested in by-elections, with Ms Suu Kyi winning a seat in parliament.
During his visit, Thein Sein will hold talks with Japanese leader Yoshihiko Noda. Officials say they will discuss a solution to Burma's debt to Japan, its biggest creditor.
This, reports the BBC's Roland Buerk in Tokyo, would open the way for Japan to resume financing much-needed infrastructure. Japanese companies are also keen to invest in Burma, which is rich in resources.
On Thursday diplomats in Brussels told the BBC they expected a "big chunk" of current EU sanctions against Burma to be suspended when foreign ministers met in Luxemburg on Monday.
According to the sources, the travel ban and asset freeze for many government officials would end. Only the arms embargo would stay in place, they said.
Aid and development money would be allowed into the country, as would investment into key parts of the economy.
The US and Australia have already eased some sanctions on Burma following the political reforms. On Thursday US Senator Jim Webb said the US should go further to reward Thein Sein's "bold leap" on reform.
"In all of these situations there's a moment in time you have to take advantage of," the senator told the Associated Press news agency. "We should have some protections in there, but we should move forward on trade."
Parliament is due to reconvene in Burma on Monday. Despite the recent poll victory of Ms Suu Kyi's party, it remains heavily dominated by the military-backed ruling party.
A quarter of the seats are also reserved for the military.
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