[2] It is also the seat of the central government's MLIT transportation branch office that licenses the Shōnai vehicle registration plate for the same region.

[3] Mikawa is located in the coastal plains of northeast Yamagata Prefecture, sandwiched between much larger Tsuruoka and Sakata.

Yamagata Prefecture Mikawa has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters.

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

In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Yamagata 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.