Ottawa is warning Canadians to stay well away from the site of a potential nuclear meltdown in northern Japan.

The Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant has been leaking radiation since it was damaged by last Friday's devastating earthquake and tsunami.

The department of Foreign Affairs says Canadians within 80 kilometres should evacuate the area as a further precautionary measure.

Ottawa's latest advisory goes beyond what has been recommended by the Japanese government, but is similar to a U.S. recommendation.

Japan issued an evacuation order within 20 kilometres of the plant with local authorities recommending that people between 20 and 30 kilometres of the plant remain indoors.

Ottawa says there isn't a radiation health risk to Canadians travelling into or out of Japan so long as they have not been within the evacuation zone.

Australia, Britain and Germany advised their citizens in Japan on Wednesday to consider leaving Tokyo and earthquake-affected areas, but so far Canada has said no evacuation of its citizens has been planned.

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