In September 2014, the 7.4 hectare old centre of town was protected as an Important Preservation District by the national government for its traditional merchant quarter architecture.

[2] Murata is located in south-central Miyagi Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan.

Murata has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members.

Murata, collectively with the other municipalities in Shibata District contributes two seats to the Miyagi Prefectural legislature.

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