At the eastern end of Kōka, the southern ridge of the Suzuka Mountains with one elevation of 1000 meters runs from northeast to southwest, forming the boundary with Mie Prefecture.

Minakuchi-juku was both a post station and also a castle town for Minakuchi Domain, which ruled over parts of the area of Kōka during the Edo period.

The village of Minakuchi was established on April 1, 1889 within Kōka District, Shiga with the creation of the modern municipalities system.

Kōka has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 24 members.

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