The short trip was over in a flash and it was time to head home. This time I booked a flight out of Narita departing around noon. With so much luggage to haul back to Korea, staying past lunch would just mean dragging it all around with not much to do. In the old days I would have pushed myself to lug that heavy stuff around and squeeze in one more meal, but now it makes far more sense to work the airport instead of overdoing it in the city. The airport facilities have gotten that much better.

I woke up in the morning, dithered over where to eat, and ended up heading to the Sukiya in front of the station. Gyudon is nothing special, but every so often I get a craving for it.

Barley tea

On a hot summer day, cold barley tea just hits the spot. This is why I like Sukiya more than the other chains.

Kimchi gyudon, medium (chumori)

Slurped it right down.

After the Sukiya crisis earlier this year I was curious what the mood would be like, and sure enough, the branch where I ate had only one part-timer on duty. It is pretty sad that they still leave a store this size to a single part-timer. There are over twenty tables, so what happens if a crowd suddenly pours in? Then again, it is probably because they have been branded a black company and hardly anyone applies for the part-time jobs anymore.

A kappa planter I photographed while strolling around the neighborhood after the meal.

It was cute.

After the good meal I got to Narita, checked my bags, and started shopping, and there was just so much to buy. Even the souvenir shops outside, before the duty-free area, sold plenty of good groceries. I picked up some Maruchan Seimen instant ramen too, and it made me really happy to be able to buy an item so bulky I would never dream of stuffing it in my bag.

Inside the duty-free area there was still a lot to shop for. The Royce’ chocolate range is just enormous.. I bought a few as samples and was stunned that every single one was delicious. They sold quite a lot of snacks as well, so I grabbed this and that, but they vanish in no time. Next time I am bringing an extra bag and sweeping the shelves, I have decided.

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