Jumpei Yasuda, a freelance journalist who went missing in Syria more than three years ago and was confirmed safe by the Japanese government on Wednesday, has said he is happy to be returning to Japan, according to Kyodo News-sourced reports Thursday.

"I am happy that I can return to Japan. At the same time, I don't know what will happen from here or what I should do. I am thinking about what I need to do," Yasuda, 44, was quoted as saying aboard a flight from the southern Turkish city of Antakya to Istanbul.

After leaving Turkey, Yasuda is expected to arrive in Japan on Thursday evening, sources close to the matter said.

A day earlier, the Japanese government confirmed that a man released by Syrian militants was Yasuda.

"We have confirmed the safety of Mr. Jumpei Yasuda who has been detained since 2015 in Syria. We've been informed that he looks healthy at first glance," Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono told a press briefing.

"We hope to bring him back home in the fastest way possible after checking his health condition," Kono told reporters at the Foreign Ministry here.

Yasuda went missing after entering Syria three years ago to cover the civil war. He was feared to have been held captive by militants after entering the country.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said late Tuesday that the Qatari government had notified Japan that Yasuda had been released.

Qatari officials said that Yasuda was at an immigration facility in the Turkish city of Antakya.

"Japan coordinated closely with countries such as Qatar and Turkey and did everything we could in light of what would be the best way to secure Yasuda's safety," Kono said.

"We feel grateful that his safety has been confirmed. We'd like to thank again the governments of Qatar and Turkey, and people concerned," Kono added.

Suga denied Wednesday that Japan had secured Yasuda's release by paying a ransom despite some organizations' claims to the contrary.

Yasuda was initially believed to have been captured and held by an al-Qaida-linked group.

It came to light thereafter that he may have been handed over to a fringe organization of the militant group.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, for his part, also thanked the leaders of Turkey and Qatar for their part in helping secure Yasuda's release.