The southwestern of the city is the Yamato Highlands, and the southeastern portion is a basin surrounded by the Nunobiki Mountains.

From around the 1460s until 1581, the province of Iga was an effectively autonomous confederation governed by a council of local ninja families.

Iga is known as the birthplace of the haiku poet Matsuo Bashō and the home of the ninja Hattori Hanzō.

Iga has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 22 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Mie 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

The city is a regional commercial center and the local economy is dominated by agriculture and seasonal tourism.