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

The Sagami Naval Arsenal of the Imperial Japanese Navy was located in Samukawa until the end of World War II.

Samukawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 18 members.

In terms of national politics, the town is part of Kanagawa 12th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

The town has one public high school operated by the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education JR East - Sagami Line