Old Toyoma Townscape: Miyagi Meiji Village

The historic townscape of central Tome, a city in northern Miyagi Prefecture, is a reminder of a time before neon signboards and the blare of automobile traffic. The area, formerly known as Toyoma, is often referred to as Miyagi Meiji Village for the many buildings that date back to the Meiji era (1868–1912). Prominent attractions include the Education Museum, the Police Museum, the Former Mizusawa Prefectural Office, the Noh Stage in the Forest (Mori Butai), the Takakura Katsuko Art Museum, and the Shunrantei café inside the Former Suzuki Family Samurai House.

The tranquil streets are a favorite shooting location for filmmakers, TV drama directors, and amateur photographers. In 2021, the area was featured as one of the settings for the NHK morning drama series Okaeri Mone (Welcome Home, Monet), which ran for 120 episodes. This popular tale of a young girl returning to Tome to pursue her dream of becoming a weather forecaster introduced the city’s nostalgic Meiji-era townscape to a national audience.

The Tourist Information Center “Tohyama no Sato” sells a ticket to all the aforementioned attractions. Tome’s historic district is easily accessible from Sendai, with expressway buses operating between Miyagi Meiji Village and Sendai Station (transit time: 1 hour 35 minutes).