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

The village of Ogawa was created within Hiki District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889.

[citation needed] Ogawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 16 members.

Ogawa, together with the towns of Tokigawa, Ranzan and Namekawa, contributes one member to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly.

In terms of national politics, the town is part of Saitama 10th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.