About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from General Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS) to Tokyo International (HND)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Boston to Tokyo. The left seat wins overall. The Boston departure view — harbor, skyline, and coastline — is richer than the right seat offers at takeoff, and while the right seat edges ahead on the HND approach, the left seat still gets a decent view of Tokyo Bay from the other side. For the bulk of the transpacific crossing, both sides see open ocean, so the departure experience tips the balance.
What can I see during takeoff from General Edward Lawrence Logan International in Boston?
During takeoff from General Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS), sit on the Left side for the best views. Logan's most common eastward departures on Runway 33L/R or 22L head northeast over the harbor, then curve north. A left seat gives you Boston Harbor, the downtown skyline, and the Charles River basin as you climb out. Right seat faces away toward East Boston and open water with less to see. Notable sights include: Boston Harbor islands, downtown Boston skyline (Hancock Tower, Prudential), Charles River basin, Cape Ann coastline to the north.
What can I see when landing at Tokyo International in Tokyo?
When landing at Tokyo International (HND), sit on the Right side for the best views. Flights from Boston typically approach HND from the northeast, often using Runway 34L/R or 16L/R depending on winds. A northeast approach over Tokyo Bay gives the right seat a view of the bay, the Rainbow Bridge area, and the city spreading west. Left seat faces inland toward suburban sprawl with less visual interest on final. Notable sights include: Tokyo Bay, Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba waterfront, Yokohama port and bay shore, Mount Fuji on the western horizon (weather permitting).
How long is the flight from Boston to Tokyo?
The flight from General Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS) to Tokyo International (HND) takes Approximately 13 to 14 hours nonstop westbound.
What does the Boston to Tokyo flight path pass over?
The great circle route from BOS to HND arcs far north over Atlantic Canada, then across southern Greenland or the Labrador Sea, over the Canadian Arctic and Alaska's interior, across the Aleutian Island chain and the North Pacific, before descending toward Honshu. Key features include the St. Lawrence River valley, Greenland's ice sheet edge, the Alaska Range (including Denali visible on clear days from the left), the Aleutian Islands as a chain of volcanic peaks breaking the ocean surface, and the Kuril Islands approaching Japan.