Shinzo Abe says his party has a "heavy responsibility" following its landslide victory in Sunday's elections.
The conservative Liberal Democratic Party won almost 300 seats and, with its coalition partner, looks set for a two-thirds majority in the lower house.
The governing Democratic Party suffered major losses, with leader Yoshihiko Noda stepping down.
Japan's seventh PM in as many years, Mr Abe faces tough decisions on the economy and a dispute with China.
"We won more seats than even we expected," he said on Monday. "We have a very heavy responsibility."
Official results are expected later in the day, but tallies by Japanese media organisations suggest that the LDP secured 294 seats.
Together with the New Komeito Party's 31 seats, a coalition would have a two-thirds majority in the 480-seat chamber, putting it in a position to override the upper house on stalled legislation.
The DPJ, meanwhile, saw its seats reduced from 230 to 57 in the lower house, Kyodo news agency reported, a result outgoing Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda called "severe".
The Japan Restoration Party - a tie-up between the right-wing former Tokyo governor and Osaka mayor - secured 54 seats, projections showed.
'Shift to the right'Shares rose early on Monday after the win by Mr Abe, who has promised more public spending and says he will implement measures directed at weakening the yen and fighting deflation.
The US congratulated Mr Abe, with President Barack Obama saying he looked forward to " working closely" with the new government.
Chinese media, however, warned that Japan's "rapid shift to the right" had neighbours worried.
"History has proven many times that a peaceful Japan is a boon to the region and the whole world, while a restless Japan will bring new disturbances to the world," a Xinhua news agency commentary said.
Japan and China are currently embroiled in a row over East China Sea islands that both claim.
Mr Abe, seen as a foreign policy hawk who has called for Japan's pacifist constitution to be revised and patriotic sentiment nurtured, has advocated a strong stance in the dispute.
Speaking after his election win on Sunday, he said his party intended "to stop the challenge" from China.
Both sides "need to share the recognition that having good relations is in the national interests of both countries", he said. "China lacks this recognition a little bit. I want them to think anew about mutually beneficial strategic relations."
'No to confusion'He also acknowledged that his election win did not constitute a glowing endorsement, given low voter turnout.
"This doesn't mean confidence in the LDP has been fully restored," he said. "I think this result means a 'no' to the political confusion of the DPJ."
"People will be strictly watching if the LDP will be able to live up to expectations."
The LDP enjoyed almost 50 years of unbroken rule until it was ousted by the DPJ in 2009.
Mr Abe served as Japanese prime minister between 2006 and 2007 but stepped down, citing ill health, as support for his administration plummeted.
The DPJ was elected on its promise to increase welfare spending and break ties between the bureaucracy and big business.
But its failure to deliver on the economy and response to the 11 March 2011 earthquake and tsunami lost it support.
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