Tanabe City, located in the southern part of Wakayama Prefecture, is divided into coastal and mountainous areas. Its main water sources are numerous rivers, including the Hidaka River, Kumano River, and Hiki River. The climate differs between the coastal and mountainous areas, resulting in different lifestyles depending on the region. The city's symbols are the ubamegashira, plum blossoms, and Japanese white jasmine. The coastal area's economy is primarily based on fishing. Large catches of grunt, whitebait, and kuruma prawns are landed here. A type of wakame seaweed called hirome is also harvested here. It is characterized by its fan-like shape and has a unique texture with a soft bite. It is harvested in abundance from winter to spring, and its harvest heralds the arrival of spring.