Japanese shares opened higher on Friday, following a US stock market rally driven by hopes of earlier Federal Reserve interest rate cuts and Alphabet Inc.'s strong earnings report.

The Nikkei 225 opened 348.52 points higher at 35,387.67.

In Tokyo, inflation accelerated to a two-year peak in April, with core consumer prices rising 3.4% year over year, according to a Friday report from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

This strengthens the Bank of Japan's rate-hike inclination, though potential US tariffs introduce an element of uncertainty.