Akita Prefecture Kamikoani has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa) with large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters.

A “Kotani Village” in Dewa Province is mentioned in records of the area from the period of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

During the Edo period, the area came under the control of the Satake clan, who ruled the northern third of the province from Kubota Domain.

After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Kitaakita District, Akita Prefecture in 1878.

[7] Kamikoani has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village legislature of seven members.

Kamikoani, together with the city of Noshiro and the other municipalities of Yamamoto District contributes four members to the Akita Prefectural Assembly.

In terms of national politics, the village is part of Akita District 2 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.