The Nikkei index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange added 5.32 points, or 0.05 percent, to 10,730.86 shortly after the opening bell.

Global markets have been awaiting the release of the Chinese data to gauge the likelihood of Beijing introducing further tightening to slow growth.

Investors would also be eyeing comments by Bank of Japan governor Masaaki Shirakawa later Tuesday amid speculation that he will present a more optimistic assessment of the nation's economic outlook.

The central bank's policy board will end its two-day meeting later Tuesday.

"While Shirakawa has already said Japan's economy is set to emerge from a lull, investors are watching whether economic prospects have become even brighter," Hiroichi Nishi, general manager at Nikko Cordial Securities, told Dow Jones Newswires.

But Japanese shares may come under pressure from profit-taking following a spike on Monday, Nishi said.

With corporate earnings winding down, the market is lacking fresh trading cues, he added.

The dollar was at 83.36 yen in early Tokyo trade, slightly up from 83.29 yen in New York Monday. The euro was also nearly flat at $1.3484, compared with $1.3486 in New York.

The overnight performance of US shares did not provide a clear direction for Tokyo.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 5.07 points (0.04 percent) to finish at 12,268.19, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 7.74 points (0.28 percent) at 2,817.18.

The S&P 500 index, a broad measure of the markets, rose 3.17 points (0.24 percent) at 1,332.32.