Kanagawa Prefecture Ayase has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall.

In the Edo period, the area of modern Ayase was part of the tenryō territory in Sagami Province controlled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate, but administered through various hatamoto.

Ayase has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Kanagawa 13th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Ayase is known for its processed meat industry, and is the leading producer of pork products in Kanagawa Prefecture.