Checked out of the hotel and took a taxi to the ferry port in Wakayama. Two tickets from the machine at 1800 Yen each and we got on board what seemd like a mobile sauna. It was 28 degrees inside and not a breath of air. Many people chose to lie on the floor and sleep but we sat up to look ouf of the window and watch inane game shows on TV. Set off OK but waters of the Inland Sea were a little choppy and we soon felt queasy especially in the stuffy heat. Drank some refreshing iced peach juice which helped a bit but only 2 hours at sea and arrived at Tokushima bang on time. We joined the queue outside for the bus and stood on the bus for ages to get to the city centre with 30 others who didn't bat an eye at us or our huge cases. We decided to get off where it looked busy which turned out to be one stop around the corner from the station anyway. Main lessons about riding the bus in Japan - get on at the back and leave at the front and pay when you get offand not when you get on. Also remember that a non-step bus is different from a non-stop bus.

We walked into the huge Hotel Clement on top of the station and took a double room on the 16th floor with view over the city and Mt Bizan.

Went to the Sogo department store after a brief stop for a sandwich and a burger. Stocked up on Miss Kitty trinkets for Emily and Snoopy cookis for Sarah. Too worn out by ferry journey to do anything else except go for cheap and disgusting Chinese meal in station shopping centre.