Kumamoto Prefecture Uto has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall.

After the Meiji restoration, the town of Uto was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889.

Uto annexed the neighboring village of Hanazono, Todoroki, Midorikawa, Amizu and Hashiragata in 1954.

Uto has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Kumamoto 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.