Tanimoto (written: 谷元 or 谷本) is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Ayumi Tanimoto (谷本 歩実) (born 1981), Japanese judoka
Keisuke Tanimoto (谷元 圭介) (born 1985), Japanese baseball player
Kiyoshi Tanimoto (谷本 清) (1909–1986), Japanese Methodist minister
Larry Tanimoto, American politician
Masanori Tanimoto (谷本 正憲) (born 1945), Japanese politician
Takayoshi Tanimoto (谷本 貴義) (born 1975), Japanese singer
Tatsuya Tanimoto (谷本 龍哉) (born 1966), Japanese politician