The Nikkei 225 fell 0.59%, or 59.48 points, to 10,050.39, while the broader Topix lost 0.59%, or 5.03, to 851.02.
The strengthening yen "drags down shares as it has the greatest impact on manufacturers' earnings," said Masaru Hamasaki, chief strategist at Toyota Asset Management Co.
"From the beginning of this year, developers gained quite a lot, so I think investors are selling the shares to lock in profit," said Masahiro Mochizuki, a Tokyo-based analyst at Credit Suisse Group AG.