Tokyo stocks opened higher Thursday after the Dow Jones Industrial Average ending at a record high overnight set a positive tone, supported by the yen's depreciation against the U.S. dollar underpinning the market and giving exporter issues a boost.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 75.04 points, or 0.37 percent, from Wednesday to 20,173.42.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, added 5.53 points, or 0.34 percent, to 1,624.87.

Air transportation, mining, and information and communication-related stocks comprised those that gained the most in early trade.