The full extent of the damage is unlikely to be clear until Tuesday morning, but major damage to infrastructure is evident.
Officials in Suzu City in Ishikawa prefecture said several houses and power poles collapsed, according to national broadcaster NHK.
Major highways were closed near the quake's epicentre and more than 36,000 households were left without power, according to utilities provider Hokuriku Electric Power.
The waves that actually hit the Sea of Japan coastline in Ishikawa on Monday were not much more than a metre high.
The major warning was later downgraded to simply a warning, and then an advisory. Nearby Niigata and Toyama prefectures were also on alert.
Japan's allies have sent messages of support to Tokyo in the wake of the disaster.