Tochigi Prefecture Shioya has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall.

The villages of Tamanyu, Funyu, and Omiya were created within Shioya District of Tochigi Prefecture on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration.

Shioya, together with the city of Sakura and town of Takanezawa collectively contributes two members to the Tochigi Prefectural Assembly.

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

The economy of Shioya is heavily dependent on agriculture, but is increasingly a bedroom community for the nearby cities of Utsunomiya and Nikkō.