Tottori Prefecture Hokuei is classified as a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall.

As with all of Hōki Province, the area was part of the holdings of a branch of the Ikeda clan, daimyō of Tottori Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate.

In 1719, the Ikeda clan developed the a settlement at the mouth of he Yura River as a port and administrative center for collection of taxes.

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

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