Japan shares ended lower on Monday as expectations of a Bank of Japan rate rise later this week weighed on sentiment, overshadowing gains in the yen after a survey showed big manufacturers' confidence hit a four-year high.

The Nikkei 225 fell 1.31%, or 668.44 points, to close at 50,168.11.

Big Japanese manufacturers' sentiment rose to a four-year high in the three months to December, a closely watched survey showed on Monday, reinforcing expectations that the Bank of Japan will raise interest rates this week.

Firms, however, see conditions worsening in the months ahead, pointing to higher U.S. tariffs and weak consumption, which cloud the outlook for how far borrowing costs can rise.

Markets have largely priced in a move to lift the policy rate to 0.75% at the December 18-19 meeting. The focus is now on guidance from Governor Kazuo Ueda on the pace of further tightening.

In economic news, Japan's tertiary industry activity index rose 0.9% in October to 105.8, up 3.1% from a year earlier, led by a 1.5% gain in business services on strength in information, finance and transport. Personal services slipped, while real estate and utilities fell. Medical and welfare activity was flat on the month but higher on the year.

Retail sales rose 1.7% from a year earlier, the fastest growth since June, and increased 1.6% from September. Machinery, pharmaceuticals, autos and department stores posted gains, while fuel, non-store retailing, clothing and food declined.

On the corporate front, shares of Smaregi (TYO:4431) rose 13% after the company surpassed 10 billion yen in annual recurring revenue (ARR) by November-end, up 42.1% year-on-year, driven by adoption of its cloud-based POS system and related retail services.

Copro Holdings (TYO:7059), which jumped 1.4%, reported 5,438 technical employees at November-end, up 816 from a year earlier, with utilization at 92.3%. Engineers in operations rose to 5,018, while core construction technician utilization remained at 92%, and mechanical, electrical, semiconductor, and IT engineer units saw higher utilization.