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

The Tsurube sushi shop, which is featured in the popular kabuki play Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura, still operates today and claims to have existed as far back as the 17th century.

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

Shimoichi, collectively with the other municipalities of Yoshino District, contributes two members to the Nara Prefectural Assembly.

In terms of national politics, the village is part of the Nara 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

School clubs include volleyball, chorus, brass band, art, shuji (calligraphy), baseball, track and field, English, and table tennis.

[citation needed] The Shimoichi Board of Education is a participant in the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Programme.

An opening ceremony including fireworks and the lighting of an Olympic-style torch takes place as neighborhoods compete in various games.

Activities include a parade of lanterns and drums down the main street to one of the town's temples near the top of a mountain.

The town's bunkasai (cultural festival) also takes place around this time, with numerous performances by townspeople and local school children, as well as displays of calligraphy, pottery, paintings, and flower arrangements by local artists in the town's cultural hall.