Yawatahama is located in the western part of Ehime Prefecture on the island of Shikoku, at the base of the Sadamisaki Peninsula.

For a long time, the city's naturally good harbor has served as an important one for Ehime Prefecture and Shikoku.

Ehime Prefecture Yawatahama has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall.

The area of Yawatahama was part of ancient Iyo Province, and its name appears in early Nara period documents.

[4] However, even before that time, Yawatahama was linked to Osaka and Oita via steamships and the area was referred to as the "Manchester of Shikoku" due to rapidly increasing industrialization.

Yawatahama has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 16 members.

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