¥120 onigiri beats ¥600 lattes every time at Lawson.
This Lawson in New Chitose Airport’s terminal gives you normal city prices on drinks, onigiri, and snacks instead of the marked-up café menu. Expect onigiri around ¥110–¥150, bottled tea and water in the ¥100–¥160 range, and basic toiletries and travel odds‑and‑ends on regular Lawson shelves. It sits landside, so you can stock up before heading through security for Domestic or International flights.
Hours generally track airport operating times, with doors open from early morning to late evening to catch the first and last Hokkaido flights. Compared to airport souvenir shops selling cookies at ¥1,000 a box, Lawson gives you cheap filler food: cup noodles, sandwiches, sweets, and ready‑to‑drink coffee. If you see your favorite onigiri flavor in stock, grab it; reviewers mention popular ones selling out early in the morning rush and again around the 18:00–20:00 bank of departures.
Tourists can sometimes use the tax‑free counter here if they hit the minimum spend listed at the register (watch for the posted ¥5,000+ amount, which can change). That works well if you’re buying multiple skincare items, snacks to bring home, or drinks for a group. Budget travelers on Google say they load up at Lawson, then skip the more expensive vending machines and sit‑down cafés past security.
Watch out for tight aisles and queues at peak times; the shop feels packed when a couple of full ANA or JAL Domestic flights dump passengers. If your schedule allows, swing by 30–40 minutes before the big departure waves, buy a couple of extra onigiri and drinks for the flight, and avoid paying double airside.