Tokyo's key Nikkei index opened higher Thursday after bright US indicators boosted Wall Street shares, with a rising dollar also encouraging investors.

The Nikkei 225 index added 0.62 percent, or 180.35 points, to 29,483.01 in early trade, while the broader Topix index firmed 0.43 percent, or 8.59 points, to 2,027.71.