A fire broke out Thursday morning in the engine room of the Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Shimakaze moored in Sasebo harbor in Nagasaki Prefecture, but it was immediately put out, the Japan Coast Guard said.
No one was injured in the fire, which was discovered by a crew member at around 8 a.m. The 4,650-ton vessel has a crew of 260.
According to the MSDF Sasebo District Headquarters, nothing unusual was found in the engine room during the ship's most recent inspection.
The coast guard and MSDF opened an investigation into the cause of the fire.
"We will strive to find out the cause and prevent it from happening again," the Shimakaze's skipper, Cmdr. Koji Goto, said.
The Shimakaze had returned to Sasebo on Wednesday after heading out to sea Tuesday to stay out of harm's way as Typhoon Danas approached the area.