The interaction between metals and oxides is an important key factor governing the electronic state and structure of the deposited metals and the physical and chemical properties of metal-oxide systems. This review describes our successful elucidation of two principles in the interaction between metals (single metal atom and also metal clusters) and metal oxide surfaces. Precise structures which have never before been obtained can be revealed using a combination of modern surface science techniques such as Polarization-dependent Total Reflection EXAFS, Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Kelvin Force Probe Microscopy. Our results demonstrate that surface oxygen atoms and the metal oxide geometric arrangement play a key role in both metal immobilization and self-regulated growth on metal oxide surfaces.