Sakai has a Humid climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall.

[2] Per Japanese census data,[7] the population of Sakai has recently plateaued after a long period of growth.

The semi-legendary Kofun period Emperor Keitai is said to have come from the area that is now the Maruoka neighbourhood of Sakai.

Following the Meiji restoration, the area was organised into part of Sakai District in Fukui Prefecture.

Sakai has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 26 members.