"It takes a while!"

This was our Australian visitor's comment yesterday as we came home from church. What she referred to was The Entering of the House. 

Just inside the front door we have baskets for winter
"bits", note the earmuffs hanging on the edge.
In summer these baskets hold hats.

In winter it is a bit of an event. After stowing all our bikes in their designated spots (there isn't much room and two of the bikes have to be lifted up two steps to their spots). Everyone troops inside with their bike keys, remove their helmets, shoes, gloves, and ear muffs. And stows them in the appropriate spots while removing their shoes. Then they can step up two steps into the house. Even though our entry is pretty big by Japanese standards, when you have six people doing this it causes a bit of a bottle neck.

Granted the boys are not also removing scarves and jackets like their parents — they scorn these in a Tokyo winter, after all, it is above zero! They're not even taking off snow suits. And, unlike earlier years, they can do it themselves . . . but still, it takes a while.

I do miss Australia a little. Where you don't usually store these things at the front door and, in fact, you don't need most of it (the earmuffs, jackets, etc.)!