Summer is also typhoon season, however, since Kurihara is so far north and inland the area is rarely affected.

The temperature fluctuates around freezing in winter, falling to an average low of −1.3 °C (29.7 °F), and snow levels vary with altitude.

The area of present-day Kurihara was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and has been settled since at least the Jōmon period by the Emishi people.

With the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, the area was organized into Kurihara District, Miyagi Prefecture.

The city of Kurihara was established on April 1, 2005, from the merger of the towns of Ichihasama, Kannari, Kurikoma, Semine, Shiwahime, Takashimizu, Tsukidate, Uguisuzawa and Wakayanagi, and the village of Hanayama (all from Kurihara District, which was dissolved as a result of the merger).

Although technically referred to as a "city", Kurihara in fact functions more like a county composed of ten separate towns.

[8] Kurihara has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 26 members.

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