Japan was hit by a 6.7 magnitude earthquake on Thursday, killing at least seven people. (Reuters Photo)

Japan's international friendly with Chile at the Sapporo Dome has been cancelled after the northern island of Hokkaido was hit by a powerful earthquake on Thursday, Japan's football federation announced.

The friendly was scheduled to be played on Friday but the aftereffects of the earthquake has forced the Japanese federation to cancel the match.

Japan's match against Chile would have been the first assignment of new head coach Hajime Moriyasu since he took charge of the team.

Japan are also scheduled to play a friendly against Costa Rica in Osaka on September 11.

A powerful earthquake paralysed Japan's northern island of Hokkaido on Thursday, killing at least seven people, triggering landslides and knocking out power to its 5.3 million residents.

Landslides were caused in Atsuma town, Hokkaido after an earthquake on Thursday. (Reuters Photo)

The quake was the latest in a string of natural disasters to batter Japan after typhoons, flooding and a record-breaking heat wave within the past two months.

Coach Reinaldo Rueda's Team Chile tweeted that all its members were safe after a 6.7-magnitude earthquake shook the area at 3 am.

Informamos que la delegación de #LaRoja se encuentra en perfectas condiciones después del fuerte terremoto ocurrido en Sapporo. Selección Chilena (@LaRoja) September 5, 2018

The Japan Football Federation (JFA) said they had taken the decision after considering the magnitude of damage that included widespread power outages and transportation disruptions, as well as spectator safety.

"Due to the effects of the earthquake, Japan Football Association has decided to cancel the Kirin Challenge Cup 2018 match between Samurai Blue and Chile national team," JFA said in a statement on Thursday.

Cancellation Notice: International Friendly Match in Sapporo (KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2018: Samurai Blue vs Chine #football https://t.co/yDwzPdvDKS jfa_en (@jfa_en) September 6, 2018

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected in Hokkaido," JFA president Tashima Kohzo added.

(With Reuters inputs)