Tanabe, Wakayama

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Tanabe was also the name of a town in the Kyoto Prefecture. After it was reorganized as a city, it was renamed to Kyotanabe.

Tanabe (田辺市; -shi) is a city located in Wakayama, Japan.

As of 2006, the city has an estimated population of 85,589 and a density of 511.19 persons per km². The total area is 136.42 km². The city was founded on May 20, 1942.

Tanabe is on the coast and surrounded by mountains. Tanabe is the point at which the Kumano shrine pilgrimage route turns inland from the coast. There is a district with many bars in front of the train station. There is a bridge to a nearby island called Motoshima.

Fishing is a major industry, particularly small minnow-like fish called shirasu. Citrus fruits are also important to the local economy. A major attraction is Oohama beach, which has recently been expanded. A nearby city, Shirahama, is famous for its artificial white beach, and Tanabe has now constructed a beach of its own in hopes of drawing more tourists. Takaoyama mountain overlooks the area. From the top of this mountain, you can see the cities of Minabe, Tanabe and Shirahama. Between Tanabe and Shirahama is a little-known temple called Kinkakuji (not to be confused with the famous Kinkakuji in Kyoto).

Tanabe is the birthplace of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of a martial art/spiritual discipline known as Aikido. A famous Samurai named Benkei was also from Tanabe.