Buddha Guest House

Koji explained everything we needed to know about Tanabe, which turned out to be a lovely place. The hostel is so cosy, easily the cosiest one we've stayed in so far in Japan. It's perfectly placed, four minutes from the station and three from the restaurant area. A great way to begin or finish a Kumano Kodo pilgrimage.

Koji-san is a wonderful host, and the house is a beautiful Showa-era place filled with fun things he's collected over the years. The futons on tatami mats were comfortable. I stayed two nights, before and after doing the Hongu Loop on the Kumano Kodo. The train and bus stations are close, and Koji-san gave us really helpful tips for getting around and enjoying Tanabe. It's a sweet town, with friendly Japanese people. I'd suggest spending a day there. There's a Sunday market near the beach, about a 10-minute walk away.

The futon was clean and comfortable, and the rooms are separated by gender. The host was very friendly and spoke a good amount of English. Our check-in was delayed by 30 minutes because he'd gone out during our check-in time. The location and price were great, and parking was free.

We stayed with Koji at the start of our Kumano Kodo trip, and he helped us so much. His home is a cozy, spacious traditional Japanese house, full of cute things he's collected. We slept so well and got such a lovely welcome to Kumano Kodo. Thanks for the hospitality, Koji. It was unforgettable!