Japan's foreign minister has cancelled a trip to the US meant to improve bilateral ties as relations between the two countries are strained by a row over a US base in Japan.

The planned meeting between Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would have come just days before US President Barack Obama's visit to Tokyo next week.

"The visit this time was cancelled as the Japanese side could not coordinate the timing amid various scheduling demands such as parliamentary sessions," Hirofumi Hirano, the chief cabinet secretary, told reporters on Wednesday.

"I don't think it will affect relations between Japan and the United States," he added.

Analysts say the victory of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in August is the sign of a significant change in relations between the two countries.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's promise to build a more independent diplomatic policy and to review security agreements with Washington has highlighted differences, particularly over the transfer of a US Marine base on Japan's southern island of Okinawa.

MVZ/SC/AKM