[2] Higashidōri occupies the northeastern coastline of Shimokita Peninsula, facing the Pacific Ocean to the east and Tsugaru Strait to the north, with Cape Shiriya forming a boundary between the two waters.

In the year 2002, the Ministry of the Environment classified some tidal flats of the Higashidōri shoreline to be one of the 500 Important Wetlands in Japan and an important wintering place for Brent geese[3] Aomori Prefecture The village has a cold humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) characterized by short, cool summers and long, cold winters with heavy snowfall.

During the Edo period, it was controlled by the Nambu clan of Morioka Domain, but was a sparsely populated area with scattered fishing hamlets.

Higashidōri has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of 14 members.

Higashidōri is part of Shimokita District which, together with the city of Mutsu, contributes three members to the Aomori Prefectural Assembly.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aomori 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.