[1] Tendō is located in the east-central portion of the Yamagata Basin, bordered by the Ōu Mountains to the east.

[2] Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Tendō has remained relatively stable in recent decades.

[4] After the start of the Meiji period, the area organized as Tendō Village under Higashimurayama District, Yamagata Prefecture in 1878.

Tendō has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 22 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Yamagata District 1 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.