Tanabe, a port town on Wakayama’s western coast, is best known today as the main gateway to the Kumano Kodo, where most pilgrims begin their journey and where the excellent Kumano Tourism Bureau helps foreign walkers arrange routes and lodging. The town itself rewards a wander: the stone walls and water gate of Tanabe Castle survive near the harbour, Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido, was born here and is remembered at a memorial hall, and after dark the narrow lanes of the Aji-koji district fill with small izakaya serving the day’s catch.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Tanabe, Wakayama |
| Hours | Ruins always accessible; shops vary |
| Admission | Free |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours or an overnight |
| Best time | Year-round; a natural base before the Kodo |
What to Do
- The surviving stone walls and water gate of Tanabe Castle.
- The birthplace and memorial of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba.
- The Aji-koji alley of small izakaya after dark.
- The Kumano Tourism Bureau, gateway to the pilgrim trails.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with the Kumano Kodo starting from here.
- Pair with Shirahama just down the coast.
- Read our Wakayama overview .
Getting There
- By train: JR Kuroshio limited express to Kii-Tanabe Station (~2 hours from Osaka).
- Onward: buses from Kii-Tanabe serve the Kumano Kodo trailheads and Hongu.
Tips
Use Tanabe as your base the night before starting the Kumano Kodo — the tourism bureau by the station is genuinely helpful with English maps, bookings and luggage forwarding, and the town is far better set up for pilgrims than the trailheads. Spend the evening in the Aji-koji alleys, where tiny izakaya serve superb local seafood at reasonable prices.
