It was located just 22 kilometres from Kawasaki where over 1 million people live.
One person living in Meouro, some 26km from the epicentre said: “Woke up from sleep… Felt strong jolt, shaking and noise of moving parts of the house for about 10-15 seconds.”
Another said: “Loud rattling of window shutter and shaking bed woke me up. Strongest I’ve felt since moving to Tokyo 1 year ago.”
A third described it as the “strongest quake for a year or two.”
Another eyewitness said: “This one woke me up. Bed felt swaying left to right. Lasted for a good five second.”
As yet no tsunami warnings have been issued.
The earthquake was initially measured at 5.1.
It coincidentally comes after an earthquake warning was accidentally issued in the Kanto region.
Residents received a text early this morning which read: “An earthquake has occurred off the coast of Ibaraki. Prepare for strong shaking.”
However the quake never struck the region, which lies to the north of Tokyo.
The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) has put the strength of the tremor at 5.1 magnitude.
The epicentre of the earthquake was located some 36 km east of Tokyo.
According to the USGS, the magnitude of the earthquake was 4.9, and the epicentere was located offshore, some 70 km below Tokyo bay.
The tremor was reportedly felt not only in Tokyo but in 16 other prefectures across central Japan.