Iwata is located in southwestern Shizuoka Prefecture, bordered by the Tenryū River to the west and with a small coastline on the Pacific Ocean to the south.

[3] Iwata is an ancient settlement, and human habitation dates from the Japanese Paleolithic period, with obsidian tools and shell middens having been found.

Numerous kofun burial mounds are also found in the area of the city, which came under the control of the imperial dynasty around the time of the semi-legendary Emperor Seimu.

Iwata has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 26 members.

The city has four public high schools operated by the Shizuoka Prefectural Board of Education.

[6] Near the north exit of JR Iwata Station is the Great Camphor tree of Zendo-ji.

The root structure bulges out of the ground creating a second level, and the circumference at the portion touching the surface is 32.9 meters.