Recently I invited a russian woman to my house. She is from Vladivostok. When she was entering, she asked me where she should leave her shoes ( ). She explained that in Russia, people has a wardrobe at the entrance, where they change the shoes. They also have shoes enough to offer some to visitors. I thought it may be a custom of eastern russian people only, because they are near Japan, China, ... But she affirmed it was a custom in all Russia.
Can anybody tell me more about this?

(I'm studying russian, but my level is still very poor, sorry).