Ōgata is located northwestern Akita Prefecture, and is a polder consisting entirely of land reclaimed from the former Hachirōgata Lagoon.

[2] Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Ōgata has remained relatively steady over the past 40 years.

Following the conclusion of the Pacific War, the government sought to create new farmland in order to secure a stable domestic supply of rice.

The Hachirōgata lagoon was the second largest lake in Japan and an ideal candidate for extensive land reclamation due its shallow waters.

[5] Ōgata has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of 12 members.

In terms of national politics, the village is part of Akita 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

The village hosted the Danish national rowing team for Tokyo Olympic Games in July 2021.

In September 2011, Ōgata and Oga City were approved as a joint member of the Japan Geopark Network.

Approximately 30 km on each side, the relatively compact geopark contains the history of the earth spanning 70 million years into the past, observable complete stratum in near succession, including the separation of the Japanese archipelago from the continent, the formation of the Sea of Japan, and environmental changes due to large-scale climate change that continue through the present day.