Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Amsterdam to Tokyo. While the right side wins at takeoff for Amsterdam city views, the left side delivers the more dramatic payoff at arrival with Tokyo Bay, the city skyline, and the possibility of Mount Fuji. Across the cruise portion over Russia and the Sea of Okhotsk, neither side has a consistent advantage, but the left side also picks up better views of the Siberian river systems and the Sea of Japan coastline on the descent into Japan.

During takeoff from Schiphol (AMS), sit on the Right side for the best views. Schiphol's most common departure runway for eastbound flights is the Polderbaan (36L/18R) or Zwanenburgbaan (36C/18C), heading roughly north before turning east. A right-side seat gives you views over Amsterdam city center, the IJ waterway, and the distinctive patchwork of Dutch polders and canal rings as you climb out. The left side faces west toward the dunes and North Sea coast. Notable sights include: Amsterdam canal ring and city center, IJ waterway and Amsterdam harbour, Dutch polder landscape with geometric fields and drainage canals, Almere new town across the IJmeer.

When landing at New Tokyo International (NRT), sit on the Left side for the best views. NRT's primary arrival runways for westbound approaches are 16L and 16R, meaning aircraft approach from the north heading south. A left-side seat on this approach gives you views over Tokyo Bay, the Tokyo waterfront, and the dense urban sprawl of central Tokyo including the distinctive Tokyo Bay reclaimed land areas. The right side faces inland over Chiba Prefecture's suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Tokyo Bay and reclaimed waterfront districts, Mount Fuji on the distant western horizon (weather permitting), Tokyo city center skyline to the west, Chiba coastal industrial zones along Tokyo Bay.

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

The great circle route tracks northeast over Denmark and southern Scandinavia, then across the Baltic states and into Russia over the Ural region. The bulk of the flight crosses the vast West Siberian Plain and then the Central Siberian Plateau — enormous river systems including the Ob, Yenisei, and Lena are visible as broad braided silver ribbons cutting through boreal taiga. The route then passes over the Sea of Okhotsk and descends toward Japan over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, where the volcanic mountains of the Daisetsuzan range are visible before crossing the Tsugaru Strait into Honshu.