Wakayama Prefecture Arida has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall.

On May 1, 1956 Minoshima merged with the neighboring villages of Yasuda, Miahara and Itoga to form the city of Arida.

Arida has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 15 members.

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

Traditionally, the main economic activity was horticulture, with the city being one of the largest producers of mikan or Japanese mandarins in Wakayama Prefecture.