Patna, Feb 19 (IANS) Japan is keen to invest and develop the Buddhist tourism circuit in Bihar, an official in the chief minister's office said here Friday.

Japan will invest in Bihar to improve the Buddhist circuit in the state, the official quoted Consul General of Japan Fuzio Samukawa as saying. The roads connecting the Buddhist holy shrines are in poor condition in the state and discourage foreign tourists from travelling to the region.

Samukawa, who visited Bihar Thursday, told officials here that the Bihar government sought a loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for constructing roads in the Buddhist circuit.

JBIC has agreed to fund the construction of 481.20 km of four-lane roads.

Samukawa said investment by Japan in the eastern parts of the country, including Bihar, is poor compared to the western parts. 'The investments made by Japanese companies in the eastern states of Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa were very poor,' he said.