Tanabe is a small town in Wakayama prefecture. It takes around two hours to get there by train from Osaka, as I remember.

According to legend, one of most famous and my favourite Japanese heroes was born in Tanabe. It is Benkei. Tanabe is also home town of my best friend, entrance to Wakayama mountains and famous Kumano kodo -ancient pilgrimage road.

From all these reasons I wanted to go there and I did. I plan all trip very carefully, because I w anted to walk trough Kumano forest, following ancient road, or rather one of her part.It was before Kumano forest and Kumano kodo became famous as world's heritage and my trip plan was perfectly original and inspired by my friend's stories. It was amazing adventure...

Tanabe is small and quiet, beautifully located fishermen's town. I came there in October, because it is easier to walk in mountains when is less warm.Weather was lovely, not too hot, sunny and from train's window I could enjoy view of sunset and sea. My fr iend booked for me place in cheap and old fashion ryokan, traditional Japanese hotel. It was a bit not easy to find this place, but using my broken Japanese I asked police officer.

It is the best part of travelling, that I can meet Japanese people who are so kind and helpful and interested in you in discreet, kind way. My bath was prepared and my dinner too. I was the only guest in this ryokan, owned by old couple. Dinner was simple but so tasty, ryokan old and a bit dusty but I loved this place. It was really old house, from 19 century. It had a very good sleep and next morning was the beginning of my big adventure.