Tosa is located in the Shikoku Mountains in central northern Kochi Prefecture, bordering Ehime.

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 town council of ten members.

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

Farmers who have acquired ISO 14001 certification refrain from using chemical fertilizers, and use fertilizers made at the Tosa Town Compost Center to grow rice and garden vegetables with reduced pesticides, and brand "Reihoku Hachisai".