Day out with Mako

Mako (my older sister) doesn't get many days off (even Obon season she has to work lots). It is a special treat for both of us to be able to have a day out shopping together. This is one of the great things about  having sisters. I love shopping with my sisters, we just chat away and shop, shop, shop!!



Mako with Oliver and Yuzuki / Rui in the background - Let's go shopping!!

Today we went to IKEA (Mako had a shopping list - she needed a new computer desk and a book shelf). We were expecting heavy traffic as everyone is on holiday but we were lucky and got there in no time. It took only 40 min on the highway from our house.

IKEA was introduced to Japan a while ago but the business model failed big time and they closed down all the stores. Mainly because Japanese cars were too small to carry the big furniture and the delivery costs then were very expensive. But somehow a couple years ago they came back. And now it is one of the most popular shops.

It wasn't too crowded when we got there but by the time we checked out it was packed!!
To get the kids in the play area Mako had to queue up for one and a half hours!! (the kids had a great time tho) Just people everywhere. Oliver was mostly asleep in the shopping cart so I got to look around - its always fun browsing in IKEA : )

By the time we got to the check out everyone had had enough of walking around and looking. We made sure Mako got everything she had on her list and I got few things I wanted - very successful shopping day for us!
(Matthew had the flu so he stayed at home - lucky him, he would have had a hard time if he came with us...)