Tomioka has a humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall.

After the Meiji restoration, on April 1, 1889, the village of Tomioka was created within Naraha District, Fukushima with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

Tomioka was severely affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, and the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011.

Only one man, 64–65-year-old fifth-generation rice farmer Naoto Matsumura, with his dog, refused to evacuate, and remained behind to feed the pets and livestock left behind in his neighborhood with supplies donated by support groups.

[5][6][7] On March 25, 2013, the nuclear evacuation zone in Tomioka was lifted by the central government, and the town was re-zoned into three areas according to different levels of radiation.

However, the town government elected to keep the evacuation in place for at least another four years due to the need to rebuild damaged infrastructure.

Concerns over radiation exposure, and the loss of compensation money from TEPCO should they decide to return, coupled with uncertainty over whether or not they could make a living in Tomioka were major issues.

[9] On April 1, 2017, the evacuation order was lifted for most of the town except for the northeastern areas, allowing many residents to return.

The whole complex is located just north of where the Joban train line crosses Route 6 and is across the highway from the Tomioka Sports Center.

Located between Route 6 and the ocean, this sports center contained multiple tennis courts and a baseball field, among other attractions.

Located at the intersection of the two roads with cherry blossom tunnels, Refre (リフレ) was a popular meeting place.

After Obon, however, the beach is typically closed due to a large jellyfish population that migrates to the area in the summer.