State-run Saudi Aramco will start storing crude oil in Japan from February onwards, helping the Pacific nation stock up its reserves while giving the top oil exporter better access to Asian markets. State-run Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp said it signed a contract with Saudi Aramco on Tuesday, allowing the top crude exporter to store about 600,000 kilolitres (3.8 million barrels) of crude in Okinawa, southwest Japan, for three years ending December 2013. The first vessel carrying 1.9 million barrels of crude is scheduled to arrive in February or later. The contract comes six months after the basic agreements between Japan's trade ministry and Saudi Aramco