[2] Sannohe occupies an inland area in southeast corner of Aomori Prefecture, south of the Hakkōda Mountains.

During the Kamakura period it was the center of the domains awarded to Nanbu Mitsuyuki, a retainer of Minamoto no Yoritomo after the defeat of the Northern Fujiwara clan in 1187.

Sannohe has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 14 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aomori 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

The economy of Sannohe is heavily dependent on agriculture, with tobacco as the main crop, followed by rice and apples.