Kashiwa has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall.

After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Kashiwa Village was created in Chiba Prefecture on October 1, 1889, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

Kashiwa, like much of northern Chiba Prefecture, saw the development of numerous military installations in the 1930s, notably after the Mukden Incident in 1931.

[1] On September 1, 1954, Kashiwa absorbed neighboring Kogane Town and Tsuchi and Tanaka villages to form the new city of Tokatsu (東葛市, Tokatsu-shi).

Kashiwa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 36 members.

Kashiwa is a regional commercial center and a bedroom community for nearby Chiba and Tokyo.

Nikka Whisky Distilling, Asahi Soft Drinks, and Ito Ham all have production facilities in Kashiwa.

[1] JR East – Jōban Line Tōbu Railway - Tobu Urban Park Line Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company - Tsukuba Express Kashiwa is home to the professional football team Kashiwa Reysol and the women's basketball team Eneos Sunflowers.