Toba is located on the northeastern tip of Shima Peninsula in far eastern Mie Prefecture, facing Ise Bay of the Pacific Ocean to the north and east.

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

During the Sengoku period, the area was under the control of pirates, from whom emerged Kuki Yoshitaka (from Nakiri district) as a dominant ruler.

Toba 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 Mie 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.