Kitakami City is located in the southwestern part of Iwate Prefecture, in the center of the Kitakami Basin. The city is formed by the Kitakami Basin at its center, the hills of the Kitakami Mountains to the east, and the mountains of the Ou Mountains to the west. The city's climate is in the Pacific Ocean climate zone, but because it is surrounded by two mountain ranges, it also has inland climate characteristics. While it was once a typical agricultural region, the city began to attract businesses early on, and with the opening of the Tohoku Expressway, Tohoku Shinkansen, and Akita Expressway, it has developed into a transportation hub and important distribution center. With a growing population and many educational institutions, it also functions as a university town. Major tourist attractions include the former Sugano family residence, designated as a national important cultural property.