The massive quake hit at 9:37 a.m. PST and was about 6.2 miles in depth. It struck 175 miles southeast of the city of Kamaishi and more than 200 miles east of Fukushima.
A massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused meltdowns at three reactors in the Fukushima nuclear plant.
Fewer than 40 reports of people feeling Thursday's quake were registered on the Geological Survey website.
It comes as Mexico is reeling from a magnitude-7.1 earthquake that collapsed buildings and killed at least 225 people.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.