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

During the Edo period, Noda developed as a river port, post town on the pilgrimage road to Nikko, and a center for the production of soy sauce.

After the Meiji Restoration, Noda and Sekiyado towns were created on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

Noda has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 28 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Chiba 7th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.