The Nikkei 225 index was up 33.48 points to 14,057.79 at the start.
After having lost ground in eight of the last 10 sessions, Japanese stocks are now looking somewhat oversold, Tachibana Securities market analyst Kenichi Hirano, told Dow Jones Newswires.
In New York on Friday the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.51 percent to 15,072.58 despite the budget deadlock that sent the government into partial shutdown.
Operators and experts on financial markets so far do not lend much credence to warnings of the worst possible outcome -- bankruptcy for the US federal state.
But the failure of a series of marathon talks between Democrats and Republicans in Washington has raised the stakes in financial circles with little hard evidence emerging that the stand-off is nearing a resolution.
Fears are growing that the shutdown could threaten fragile economic recovery in the US, with some analysts suggesting it could push the country's economy back into recession.
The shutdown has also delayed the release of key government data, such as the monthly jobs report which had been due last Friday.
The dollar was under pressure, fetching 97.21 yen in early Monday against 97.47 yen in New York Friday afternoon.
The euro bought $1.3563 and 131.92 yen compared with $1.3557 and 132.14 yen.