The powerful quake - which had a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 - struck just after midnight about 100 kilometres underground, off the coast of Iwate prefecture. Its tremors lasted up to 40 seconds in parts of northern Japan.

Japan's high-speed train system was shut down in some areas because of the quake.

Landslides were reported in several areas, and approximately 6,700 homes suffered power outages, according to Japanese authorities.

"Everything has fallen off the shelves, scattered all over the floor," grocery store owner Tomio Kudo told national broadcaster NHK from the town of Hirono, where the shaking was most violent.

"Even a big refrigerator has moved about 30 centimetres."

Most of the 91 injured people suffered cuts and bruises and were in stable condition.

Japan's Meteorological Agency said there was no danger of a tsunami.

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