Watari is located in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan, in the southeastern Miyagi Prefecture, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east.

[2] Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Watari has remained relatively steady since the turn of the 21st century.

[5] Hundreds of people were stranded in a school but were airlifted from the roof by Japanese military helicopters.

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

In terms of national politics, the town is part of Miyagi 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.