The city is long from north to south, and has the largest area of any municipality in Ibaraki prefecture.

On December 1, 2004, the town of Kanasagō, and the villages of Satomi and Suifu (all from Kuji District) were merged into Hitachiōta, more than tripling its size and increasing its population by about 20,000.

Hitachiōta has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Ibaraki 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

JR East – Suigun Line Media related to Hitachiōta, Ibaraki at Wikimedia Commons