Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile on Thursday appealed to their countrymen to respect the law of their host nation and ensure that the sentiment of the people here was not hurt when the Olympic torch relay passes on April 17.

The exiled government appealed to all quarters of the Tibetan diaspora to desist from any kind of violent methods.

Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama arrived in Japan for a stopover on his way to Seattle in the United States, the spiritual leader's office said.

Several Japanese devotees and Tibetans were present at the Narita airport, near Tokyo, to welcome the Dalai Lama.

In Seattle, the Dalai Lama will take part in a series of lectures during a five-day conference on 'Seeds of Compassion', starting on April 11.