The temblor occurred at 10:18 a.m. local time in eastern Shimane Prefecture at a depth of about 10 kilometres, measuring upper 5 on Japans seismic scale of 7 in the hardest-hit areas in Shimane and Tottori prefectures, said the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

The initial quake was followed by a sizable number of aftershocks. There was no tsunami warning issued and no immediate reports of injuries or major damage.