SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger heads to the Far East Tuesday on a four-day tour of Japan, with a goal of selling California.

Schwarzenegger will be leading a delegation of 56 people, representing tourism, industry and agriculture in California. And given his history, the governor is planning to make a big splash in Tokyo.

Schwarzenegger has been seen doing zany antics in ads on Japanese TV for years. So, he is well recognized outside his movie career. He has pitched things like noodles, beer and energy drinks, and it's that image that helps to explain Schwarzenegger's popularity in Japan.

The governor's spokespeople say they are "inundated" with questions about his trade trip to Tokyo.

"So, I think it will be one of the important things, is to go out and to sell California, because we have just so much to offer. And to let Japan know and to let the rest of the world know that we're open for business," Schwarzenegger said.

Allan Zaremberg, chief executive of the California Chamber of Commerce, is one of the business and industry leaders making up the California delegation.

"He's going to promote California, and he's going to attract attention and crowds. And there's no better messenger than Gov. Schwarzenegger to say California is back," Zaremberg said.

How important is Japan? Last year, it bought almost $12 billion worth of goods and services from California, second only to Mexico. But pitching California won't be easy given business costs that are much higher than in other western states.

"The Japanese have already made significant investments in California. I think they will make additional investments. But they also want to see the costs go down," said Bill Hauck, of the California Business Roundtable.

Schwarzenegger's trip is his second abroad as governor. Last May, he traveled to Israel, where he told KCRA 3's Kevin Riggs that he was anxious to launch a global California campaign.

"This is just the beginning. I will be going all around the world to do that," Schwarzenegger said on May 1.

With election season behind him, Schwarzenegger is free to do that. But some critics say these types of trips are more about boosting the governor's national political ambitions.

"The governor's a global presence, regardless of what his elected status is. But right now, he's really focused on California. He has stated that over and over again. It's other people that are speculating about other options," said Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Margita Thompson.

Just how much of the trip is being paid for by private business interests is not yet clear, but the California Jobs Commission and Tourism Commission are picking up part of the tab.