Magnitude 5.7 earthquake injures at least 22 in central Japan as officials warn more strong shaking may come

A strong earthquake rocked central Japan in the early hours of Sunday, sending people running from their homes in the dark and leaving glass on the streets of cities along the Pacific coast.

The quake struck at 1.04am Japan time (12.04am AWST) about 40 kilometres below Shizuoka Prefecture, which sits between Tokyo and Nagoya. The Japan Meteorological Agency gave it a preliminary magnitude of 5.7; the US Geological Survey put it at 5.5.

At least 22 people were injured, according to local reports, several of them after falling on stairs as they hurried outside. Store windows shattered, and books were thrown from the shelves of a bookshop. No deaths had been reported by early Sunday afternoon AWST.

Where was it felt?

The most violent shaking was recorded in Aichi Prefecture, home to Nagoya and Japan’s car-making heartland, according to the official seismic assessments. The quake was felt across a wide stretch of central Japan, including the city of Hamamatsu, the old imperial capitals of Kyoto and Nara, and the prefectures of Gifu and Yamanashi, where Mount Fuji stands. It was not felt in Tokyo.

The agency said there was no threat of a tsunami. Smaller aftershocks followed in the hours after the main quake.

What are officials warning about?

The Japan Meteorological Agency said strong quakes could follow in the coming week, and that the risk is greatest in the next two to three days.

Agency official Ayataka Ebita urged people to watch for “mudslides, falling rocks and the possible effects from rainfall”, as ground loosened by shaking can give way.

Shinkansen bullet trains were slowed through the affected area as a precaution, a standard step because strong shaking can damage the tracks.

Is this connected to the Nankai Trough?

The agency said it had detected no apparent change along the Nankai Trough so far. That matters because the trough, an undersea fault running off Japan’s Pacific coast from Shizuoka to Kyushu, is where seismologists expect a future megaquake that could be followed by a major tsunami. Japan’s government has long rated such a quake as likely within decades.

In August 2024 the agency issued its first ever Nankai Trough “megaquake advisory” after a magnitude 7.1 quake off Kyushu, prompting cancelled holidays and stockpiling across the country. Sunday’s quake, much smaller and inland, did not trigger a similar warning.

What does it mean for Australians in Japan?

Japan is one of the most popular destinations for Australian travellers, and central Honshu, from Nagoya to Kyoto, is on most itineraries. Travellers in the region should follow instructions from local authorities and their accommodation, expect some train delays, and stay away from steep slopes and cliffs while the risk of landslides remains. Japan’s public broadcaster, NHK, runs earthquake alerts in English, and the Australian Government’s Smartraveller service carries advice for Japan.