It is located at the northern end of the rias coastal area of the Sanriku Coast, east of the prefectural capital of Morioka.

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

The area was inhabited by the Emishi people, and came under the control of the imperial dynasty during the early Heian period with the construction a fortified settlement on the coast.

[citation needed] On 27 January 1700, the coast of Miyako was hit by a 3-meter-tall (9.8 ft) tsunami that was a product of the 1700 Cascadia earthquake, destroying 20 homes.

On 6 June 2005, Miyako absorbed the town of Tarō, and village of Niisato, more than doubling the old city's size.

[12][13] Miyako has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 28 members.

Miyako, together with the town of Iwaizumi and the villages of Fudai, Tanohata, and Yamada, collectively contributes three seats to the Iwate Prefectural legislature.

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