Samoa will have their first training session in Tokyo today ahead of Saturday's rugby test against Japan at the Prince Chichibu Stadium.
The test marks the beginning of Samoa's Northern Hemisphere tour, which also includes internationals against Ireland, England and Scotland.
The Samoa Rugby Union's chief executive, Sua Peter Schuster, says the month-long trip is crucial for readying the team for next year's world cup.
"The World Cup is becoming the crucial event and we need to prepare well. To prepare well we've got to play some tough games and identify the top 40 players that we can choose the 30 for the world cup next year."
Sua Peter Schuster says eight members of the world champion Samoan sevens team have been included in the touring squad and they will travel direct to Dubai after the Scotland international to take part in the opening round of the new sevens world series.
