Shiga Prefecture Aishō has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall.

On April 1, 1889 the village of Nae (苗村) was formed within Gamō District, Shiga by the merger of the hamlets of Kawamori (川守村), Iwai (岩井村), Yamanoue (山之上村), Hayashi (林村), Shō (庄村), Shinano (信濃村), Kayochō (駕輿丁村), Shima (島村), and Ayado (綾戸村).

Likewise, the village of Kagamiyama (鏡山村) was formed by the merger of the hamlets of Kagami (鏡村), Yamazura (山面村), Ukawa (鵜川村), Oguchi (小口村), Kuzushi (薬師村), Shichiri (七里村), Kawakami (川上村), Hashimoto (橋本村), Yuge (弓削村), Sue (須恵村), Nishikawa (西川村), Nishiyokozeki (西横関村), Yamanaka (山中村), and Okaya (岡屋村).

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

In terms of national politics, the town is part of Shiga 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.