A powerful earthquake has struck off the northern coast of Japan, triggering a tsunami alert across several regions.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake registered a preliminary magnitude of 7.5. It hit off the Sanriku coast at around 4.53pm local time, at a depth of about 10 kilometres beneath the sea.

A tsunami measuring about 80 centimetres was recorded at Kuji Port in Iwate Prefecture, with a smaller 40 centimetre wave detected at another port in the same region.

Authorities have warned residents to stay away from coastal areas and rivers and to move to higher ground immediately. People in affected areas have also been told to expect possible aftershocks over the coming week.

Evacuation advisories have been issued for residents across 11 towns in Iwate Prefecture.

Officials said waves of up to 3 metres could still reach parts of the coastline.

Tsunami alerts remain in place for Iwate, Aomori, and southeastern Hokkaido, with lower level advisories issued further south in Miyagi and Fukushima.

A CNN producer in Tokyo reported feeling the building they were in shake for about seven minutes.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has urged residents in affected areas to evacuate immediately and said the government had set up an emergency task force.

The quake comes 15 years after the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which killed more than 22000 people and forced nearly 500000 from their homes.

In the aftermath of that disaster, about 160000 people fled Fukushima due to radiation released from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Around 26000 have never returned, either resettling elsewhere or due to ongoing concerns about safety.