Nanto has a humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall.

[2] Nanto has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members.

Works animation studio, which is responsible for making shows like Canaan, Angel Beats!, Charlotte, and Sakura Quest.

[8][circular reference] Nanto is also well known for the Inami woodcarving town, which is believed to have been practicing the craft since 1390 C.E.

[9][circular reference] Gokayama is a area in Nanto that is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage List thanks to its traditional gassho built houses, which preserve a traditional architectural style that has a steep steeple shape to cope with the 2 to 3 meters of snow buildup the area gets in the winter.

[11] Activities in the area in include participating in weaving and dyeing fabrics as well as making buckwheat (soba) noodles.

In this village roughly 200 woodcarving artisans work and carve wooden pieces of art that fill the town.