Kōchi Prefecture Tosa has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall.

During the Edo period, the area was part of the holdings of Tosa Domain ruled by the Yamauchi clan from their seat at Kōchi Castle.

Tosa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 15 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Kōchi 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Benefiting from the warm climate and abundant water, the area has long been a prosperous region for agriculture, with greenhouse horticulture in the plains and fruit tree cultivation in the surrounding mountains.