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

[8] After the Meiji restoration, the village of Gōtsu was established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system.

[10] In 1959, the former chairman of the Japan Shipbuilding Industry Foundation Ryoichi Sasakawa erected a 2.9 meter tall cenotaph.

Gōtsu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 16 members.

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

Before becoming mayor, Nakamura worked at a welfare facility for the elderly and served as secretary to Japanese house of representative member Wataru Takeshita.

[12] (Rōmaji)[13] (Kanji) The main industries in Gōtsu are agriculture and commercial fishing, As a local industry, the city has long been known as the center of the production of Sekishu roof tiles, ceramics (Iwami ware) and clay and stone products, which account for the largest shipment value of manufactured goods.

Due to good transportation connections and low land prices, companies such as biomass power plants and resin processing manufacturers have also entered the market.

[14] At Shimane Vocational Ability Development Junior College (島根職業能力開発短期大学校), engineering and technician training is offered.

The ancestor of all living Shiba Inu, Ishi, was from the Sekishuken breed, indigenous to western Shimane.