A magnitude 6.1 quake struck off Aomori in northern Japan on Tuesday, the national weather agency said, but no tsunami warning was issued.
The quake hit at 6:18 p.m. (0918 GMT) at a depth of 20 kilometers (12 miles), according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Major Japanese media outlets carried no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The US Geological Survey put the magnitude of the quake at 6.2.
For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Earthquakes are common in Japan, which sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.
The country has strict construction regulations intended to ensure buildings can withstand strong earthquakes, and emergency drills are routinely held to prepare for a major jolt.
Read more:
Earthquake-hit Syria observing Ramadan with heavy heart
From Ukraine to post-quake Turkey: Telecom provider connects the unconnected
Earthquake in Afghanistan kills at least 13, nine of them in Pakistan
