With the creation of the modern municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration on April 1, 1889, the town of Matsubara, and the villages of Matsuoka, Takaoka, Kurosaki and Kushigata was established within Taga District, Ibaraki).

Takahagi merged with Matsubara, Takaoka and Kurosaki on November 23, 1954 and was raised to city status.

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

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Ibaraki 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

There is also one private high school JR East – Jōban Line Media related to Takahagi, Ibaraki at Wikimedia Commons