During the Meiji period, Seto village was organized in 1888 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system, becoming a town in 1892.

After annexing the neighboring village of Akatsu in 1925, Seto was raised to city status on October 1, 1929.

[5] In the postwar period, the city grew as a bedroom community for Nagoya and as a tourist designation.

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

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aichi 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

The city has four public high schools operated by the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education.