The most well-known facility is Tome Elementary School and Education Museum. Built in 1888 by architect Yamazoe Kisaburo and master carpenter Sato Asakichi, it is notable for its western-style U-shape. In each classroom you can learn about the history of Tome and even pose with life-sized mannequin students!

Close by is Shunrantei, a samurai residence with a traditional thatched roof. It was built more than two centuries ago, during the Edo period. Though the samurai who once lived here were highly ranked, one can see they lived a simple and frugal life by observing the slim pillars and narrow rooms of the residence. A museum here also displays artifacts related to the Date clan, the rulers of the region.

Next is the Mizusawa Prefectural Office Memorial, the government building of Toyoma during the time when Toyoma existed as a separate prefecture (1871–1875). Its large wooden gate and building reveal a blend of architectural styles. After the prefecture was abolished, the building was used as an elementary school and later a court.

The second-to-last stop on the walking tour is the Police Museum. This is the only police museum in Japan. It is housed in a former police station dating back to 1889. The building is intriguingly built in a Western-style but with a Japanese-style tile roof. It displays police artifacts, including real police vehicles.

Rounding out the five buildings of the Meiji Village is Mori Butai Noh Theater. Toyoma Noh has a 400-year history, and this stage was built to return Noh to its roots as a performing art set in a forest. It was designed by Kengo Kuma, the architect behind the new stadiums being built for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Visitors can tour the building and view a collection of props used on the Noh stage. If you can, of course it's best to go when you can actually catch a performance. The stage is illuminated at night for enchanting bonfire performances during the annual Toyoma Fall Festival on the third Saturday every September.

After savoring Tome’s history , how about sampling some of Tome’s signature foods?

Tsukayu (大衆食堂 つか勇) is the birthplace of Toyoma aburafu-don. Aburafu (deep-fried wheat gluten) is marinated in soy sauce and mirin, simmered with eggs and onion, then layered over rice. Another Tome specialty is hatto soup. It is warming and filling, with bits of chewy dough torn into ragged shapes that soak up the flavors of the broth.