[2] Yahaba is located in central Iwate Prefecture, bordered by Morioka city to the north, Shiwa town to the south and Shizukuishi to the west.

[3] Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Yahaba has seen a long and steady increase over the past century.

The area was inhabited by the Emishi people, and came under the control of the imperial dynasty during the early Heian period with the construction Tokutan Castle (徳丹城) a fortified settlement, by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro in 813 AD.

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

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