A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck the Pacific Ocean off Tokyo on Tuesday morning, local time.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued a tsunami advisory for the Izu Islands and the Ogasawara Islands.
The agency says a tsunami of up to one meter can be expected in coastal areas.
People are advised to stay away from coasts and the mouths of rivers.
Officials in Ogasawara Village are using a public broadcast system to urge residents to stay away from the coastline because of the tsunami risk.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency is set to hold a press conference to give details of the alert.