Tokyo stocks opened lower on Thursday as the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest policy minutes reminding investors a rate hike would not be imminent, sent the yen higher versus the greenback.

As of 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 18.32 points, or 0.12 percent, from Wednesday to 15,697.04.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange meanwhile, retreated 1.98 points, or 0.16 percent, to 1,265.77.

Notable earlier decliners comprised retail, iron and steel, and insurance-linked stocks.