Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Amsterdam to Tokyo. The right seat wins overall because the Schiphol departure offers genuinely spectacular low-altitude views of Amsterdam's iconic canal ring and the IJsselmeer, which are among the most visually distinctive urban and water landscapes in Europe. The Haneda landing left-seat advantage is real but the approach is shorter and partially over water. For the full flight, right also gives better views crossing southern Siberia where the Yenisei and Lena river systems are visible, and the Japanese Alps on descent.

During takeoff from Schiphol (AMS), sit on the Right side for the best views. Schiphol's primary departure runways (18R/36L and 06/24 configurations) typically route northbound or eastbound departures that swing right over Amsterdam city center and the IJ waterway. A right seat gives you the city grid, the canal rings, and the Amstel River as you climb out eastward toward Germany. Notable sights include: Amsterdam canal ring (UNESCO-listed concentric waterways visible from low altitude), IJ waterway and Amsterdam Centraal station area, Almere new town across the IJmeer, IJsselmeer lake to the northeast.

When landing at Tokyo International (HND), sit on the Left side for the best views. Tokyo Haneda's primary approach from the northwest (runways 34L/34R) brings aircraft in over Tokyo Bay on a southward track. Left-side seats get the Tokyo skyline, Tokyo Tower, and the dense urban sprawl of central Tokyo before crossing the bay threshold, while right seats face mostly open water. Notable sights include: Tokyo Bay and its reclaimed waterfront, Tokyo city center skyline including Tokyo Tower and Shinjuku high-rise cluster, Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba artificial island, Mount Fuji on the distant western horizon on clear days.

The flight from Schiphol (AMS) to Tokyo International (HND) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours.

The polar route tracks northeast over northern Germany and Poland, then across the Baltic states and into Russia. Over Siberia the flight crosses the vast Ob, Yenisei, and Lena river basins — enormous braided river systems visible as silver threads across the taiga and tundra. Lake Baikal may be visible depending on exact routing, appearing as a long narrow dark blue slash in the landscape. The route then descends over the Russian Far East and crosses the Sea of Japan before reaching Honshu. On clear days the Japanese Alps including the Hida Mountains are visible during descent into Tokyo.