A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck central Japan early Sunday, November 8, 2026, injuring at least 24 people, damaging buildings and disrupting regional and high-speed rail services.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that the earthquake occurred at 1:04 a.m. local time, with its epicenter in western Shizuoka Prefecture at a preliminary depth of 41 kilometers (25 miles).
- A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck western Shizuoka Prefecture at 1:04 a.m. on November 8, with the strongest shaking recorded in Chita, Aichi Prefecture.
- Local media reported at least 24 injuries. No deaths or tsunami warning were reported, and the Hamaoka nuclear power plant showed no abnormalities.
- Japan’s Meteorological Agency warned of potentially strong aftershocks over the next week, particularly during the following two to three days.
The US Geological Survey measured the earthquake at magnitude 5.5, slightly below JMA’s preliminary estimate.
The strongest shaking occurred in neighboring Aichi Prefecture, where Chita recorded an upper 5 on Japan’s seven-point seismic intensity scale.
Local media reported at least 24 injuries across the affected regions, compared with earlier reports of 22. The figure remains provisional.
No fatalities or tsunami warning were reported.
Where did the earthquake strike in Japan?
The earthquake originated beneath western Shizuoka Prefecture, approximately 40 kilometers below the Earth’s surface.
JMA recorded a maximum seismic intensity of 5-upper in Chita, Aichi Prefecture, the strongest shaking reported in that area in approximately three decades.
Lower 5 intensity readings were recorded in parts of Aichi, Shizuoka, Nagano and Gifu.
The tremor was also felt across a wider area of central Japan, including Hamamatsu, Kyoto, Nara and Yamanashi Prefecture, where Mount Fuji is located.
Low-intensity shaking was recorded in parts of the greater Tokyo region, although the earthquake was not widely felt in the capital.
Japan’s seismic intensity scale measures the strength of shaking at individual locations, unlike magnitude, which represents the overall size of an earthquake.
At least 24 injured as earthquake damages buildings
Local authorities and Japanese media reported injuries in Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures.
The Japan Times reported that local Chunichi Shimbun and Tokai Television had counted at least 24 injured people across the two regions. An emergency official in Aichi reported 16 cases, mostly involving minor injuries.
Authorities in neighboring Shizuoka said at least three women required emergency medical treatment.
One woman in her nineties reportedly injured her shoulder after falling from her bed during the shaking. Other injuries involved people who fell on stairs while attempting to evacuate buildings.
Japanese television footage showed shattered storefront windows, broken glass scattered across streets and merchandise knocked from shelves.
Windows at a car dealership in Toyohashi were damaged, while a large bookstore in Toyota reported books and other merchandise falling from shelves.
Local reports also described temporary water supply problems in parts of Higashiura. No deaths had been confirmed in the available reports.
Shinkansen trains disrupted after earthquake
The earthquake caused temporary suspensions and delays across regional railway networks.
Services on the Tokaido Shinkansen, one of Japan’s principal high-speed rail routes, were affected as operators carried out safety inspections.
Some bullet trains operated at reduced speeds, while others experienced temporary suspensions. Disruptions were reported on sections between Shizuoka and Gifu-Hashima stations. Rail operators introduced the restrictions to inspect tracks and infrastructure for potential earthquake damage. Some local railway services were also temporarily suspended.
The available reports did not establish that all affected services had returned to normal.
No tsunami warning or nuclear plant damage reported
JMA confirmed that the earthquake did not create a tsunami threat. Chubu Electric Power Co., the operator of the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station in Shizuoka Prefecture, reported no abnormalities at the facility following the tremor.
Hamaoka is located near the region associated with the Nankai Trough, an offshore tectonic boundary where Japan has long anticipated the possibility of a major earthquake.
JMA said it had detected no unusual changes indicating that Sunday’s earthquake had altered conditions along the Nankai Trough.
The agency assessed the event as occurring within the Philippine Sea Plate and said its magnitude did not indicate a significant change in the state of the plate boundary. Monitoring of seismic activity and crustal movement will continue.
Japan warns of strong aftershocks over the next week
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned residents in affected areas to prepare for further earthquakes over approximately one week.
Officials said the risk of another substantial tremor was particularly elevated during the first two to three days following the main earthquake.
JMA noted that historical earthquake sequences indicate a 10-20% occurrence rate of a similarly large event following a significant earthquake. The agency warned that further shaking could reach intensity 5-upper in the most affected areas.
Strong shaking can destabilize slopes, increasing the risk of landslides and rockfalls, particularly during subsequent rainfall. At least one smaller aftershock was recorded shortly after the main earthquake.
Another earthquake strikes Kumamoto Prefecture
A separate magnitude 4.3 earthquake was reported in Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan on Sunday morning. There were no immediate reports of serious damage or injuries associated with that event.
Kumamoto had previously experienced a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on July 28, 2026.
Japan lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where interactions between major tectonic plates generate frequent seismic activity.
The November 8 earthquake affected a broad area of central Japan, but JMA reported no evidence that it had triggered a significant change along the Nankai Trough. Authorities continue assessing injuries, infrastructure damage and the possibility of additional earthquakes.
