Outfoxing Japan's Guardian Winds by Tere Batham continued...
Fortunately the fog soon burned off, so that as we approached the Kii Suido the parade of big ships marching to and from Osaka was clearly visible. The flowed like a might river: container ships, car carriers, tankers and freighters large and small. We would have to skip and spin like a dancer to cross the busy shipping lanes and reach Tanabe.
Picturesque Tanabe lies in an area that we later learned is one of the scenic gems of Japan. With our detailed chart we had no difficulty navigating our way into the outer harbor past dangerous offshore rocks and shoals. As we entered through the sea wall we spotted a cluster of yachts and resort buildings to port, but forewarned that Japanese yacht clubs cost the earth to moor at, we never gave a thought to going in. Japanese yacht clubs average about US $100 a day, though we later learned that most clubs allow overseas yacht one or two weeks gratis.A narrow entrance to starboard opened into another harbor crammed with fishing trawlers. Just outside was a derelict barge on which local men sat fishing. We headed over to it, tied up and called the officials to clear in. Or voyage to japan was over and our coastal journey was about to begin.
One month later, typhoon season set in and Japan's guardian winds closed the gate. With many miles of Japan yet to explore, we were happily captive amoung the pearls of the Orient.