Earthquake shakes western Japan

A magnitude-6.6 earthquake has hit western Japan. However, no tsunami warning has been issued and there are no reports of major damage.

Headstones are strewn across a graveyard in Kurayoshi, Tottori Prefecture, in western Japan after an earthquake struck the area on Oct. 21, 2016. Source: AAP

A 6.6-magnitude earthquake has struck a large area of western Japan.

Video footage shows broken roof tiles and groceries scattered on store floors in Tottori prefecture, 700 kilometres west of Tokyo, while there are some reports of injuries.

However the Meteorological Agency said there was no threat of a tsunami.

One woman was taken to hospital after she was splashed with oil while cooking at a restaurant in Tottori City, broadcaster NHK reported.

The quake knocked out power to 40,000 households in Tottori prefecture and prompted train services in the west of the country to be briefly suspended, local media reported.

The epicentre of the quake was located in the middle of Tottori prefecture, at a depth of 10 kilometres and the region was shaken by a series of aftershocks, the agency said.

It struck just after 2pm local time on Friday.