[2] Tamba is located in an inland basin at an average elevation of 100 meters above sea level in the eastern part of the prefecture.

During the Sengoku period, the area was dominated by Akai Naomasa, nicknamed the "Red Demon of Tanba" from his stronghold at Kuroi Castle.

The area was conquered by Akechi Mitsuhide under Oda Nobunaga, but Kuroi Castle did not fall until three years after Akai's death.

[citation needed] Tamba is a very small city with Hikami as the biggest of the six original towns.

Tamba has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members.

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