A 5.7-magnitude earthquake hit eastern Japan on Tuesday morning, seismologists reported. No tsunami alert was issued.

The quake struck at around 4:10 a.m. off the eastern Honshu coastline, 25 kilometers from the city of Toba and 37 kilometers from the city of Ise, according to the U.S. Geological Survey which monitors earthquakes worldwide.

The tremor struck far down at a depth of 332 kilometers, the USGS added. There were no initial reports of damage.

Japan lies on the so-called "Ring of Fire", a series of seismic fault lines encircling the Pacific Ocean which create frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

A 5.5-magnitude earthquake hit eastern Japan last week, rocking buildings in Tokyo. That tremor struck at a much shallower depth of 59 kilometers.

© (c) 2013 AFP