Zodiacs! Today we got out the small boats and enjoyed a short cruise into the port of Uchiko to meet our buses for the day’s excursion. A short ride brought us to the lovely little town of Uchiko, where we explored the beautifully preserved old town, visited a gorgeous merchant’s home built in the late 19th century, and had a tour of a small Kabuki theatre, including a basement room, where performers were raised up to stage level on a small platform lifted by four strong men. In Uwajima, the highlight was a visit to Uwajima Castle, an imposing edifice on a hill overlooking the town and one of only six castles in the country that remain from the period of the Tokugawa Shogunate.