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

During the Nara period, it prospered as a port for transporting lumber as part of the construction of capital cities such as Heijō-kyō.

The village of Kizukawa in Sōraku District, Kyoto, was established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system.

Kizugawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Kyoto 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.