Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will not visit war-related Yasukuni Shrine's autumn festival this week, in an attempt to improve strained ties with China and South Korea, a government source said Saturday.

Instead of going to the shrine, Abe is considering sending a "masakaki" tree traditionally used in Shinto rituals, just as he did in April for its spring festival, the source said.

Abe apparently is looking to appease China and South Korea, who vehemently oppose visits by Japanese prime ministers and Diet members to the controversial shrine, as well as conservative voters who returned his Liberal Democratic Party to power last year, the source said.