[2][3] The administrative area includes the inhabited islands of Fukushima, Takashima, Kuroshima, Tobishima, and Aoshima, in Imari Bay.

As such, the two islands have strong economic and geographical ties not only with the mainland of Matsuura City, but also with Saga Prefecture.

Takashima, within the borders of the modern town, is the location where the Mongol invasions of Japan, floundered due to the winds of typhoons in 1274 and 1281, giving rise to the legend of the kamikaze.

The villages of Sasa, Mikuriya, Hoshika, Chokawa, Imabuku, Fukushima, and Takashima were established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889.

On March 31, 1955 Sasa, Shin Mikuriya, and Chokawa merged to form the city of Matsuura.

Matsuura has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 17 members.

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