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

During the Edo Period, the area was tenryō or direct territory of the Tokugawa shogunate, administered together with the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine.

After the Meiji restoration, villages were established within Ōchi District, Shimane on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system.

In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Shimane 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

The town does not have a high school Following the closure of the JR West Sankō Line on April 1, 2018, Misato no longer has any passenger railway service.