On both sides of the Shirakawa River, which runs from east to west through the urban center, are residential and commercial areas, and cultivated land.

Following the Meiji restoration, the villages of Chōyō, Hakusui, and Kugino were established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system.

Due to declining birth rate, aging population and the opportunity to share administrative resources, discussions between the three villages (Chōyō, Hakusui and Kugino) began on April 1, 2003.

[citation needed] Minamiaso has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of 14 members.

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