Shimokitayama is composed of seven main hamlets, arranged roughly in a circle, and Zenki, which is no longer inhabited but which once housed a religious community of shugendo practitioners, including Jitsukaga.

Roads lead north toward Nara from Ikehara, east toward Kumano from Shimokuwahara, south toward Kitayama from Kamikuwahara, and west toward Totsukawa from Uramukai.

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

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

Local businesses are mainly in the tourism industry, such as hot springs and golf courses, and forestry Shimokitayama has one public combined elementary/junior high school operated by the village government.