During the Edo Period, the town developed as the jōkamachi of Tsuwano Domain, which was ruled by the Kamei clan for most of its history.

In 1868, it was the site of particular gruesome persecutions of Kakure Kirishitan, who had been exiled to this location after their discovery and arrest in the Urakami Yoban Kuzure.

After the Meiji restoration, the town of Tsuwano was established on within Kanoashi District, Shimane on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system.

In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Shimane 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

JR West (JR West) - Yamaguchi Line A popular tourist destination, Tsuwano is served by the steam locomotive Yamaguchi-gō, which runs once daily on weekends, national holidays, and certain other days between March and November (daily in August) on the Yamaguchi Line between Shin-Yamaguchi Station to Tsuwano.

The train is usually pulled by a C57 locomotive, but a D51 does the job on several weekdays between July and September, and both engines are linked in a double-header configuration on weekends in August.