About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW) to New Tokyo International (NRT)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Detroit to Tokyo. Left side wins both the departure and arrival phases. During the transpacific cruise at 35,000 feet the views are largely ocean and cloud cover regardless of side, but the left side offers the better bookend experiences at both airports.
What can I see during takeoff from Detroit Metro Wayne Co in Detroit?
During takeoff from Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW), sit on the Left side for the best views. DTW's primary departure runways (21L/21R heading southwest, or 22L/22R) mean a left-seat passenger gets views back over the Detroit River and downtown Detroit skyline as the aircraft banks northeast toward Canada. The left side captures Lake St. Clair and the dense urban grid of Detroit proper. Notable sights include: Detroit River and Windsor Ontario waterfront, downtown Detroit skyline, Lake St. Clair to the northeast, suburban sprawl grid of Wayne County.
What can I see when landing at New Tokyo International in Tokyo?
When landing at New Tokyo International (NRT), sit on the Left side for the best views. NRT's primary landing runways (34L/34R heading roughly north, or 16L/16R heading south) mean approaches from the south or north over Chiba Prefecture. On a typical southbound approach to runway 34, the left side faces west toward central Tokyo Bay and the Tokyo metropolitan skyline in the distance, while Mount Fuji may be visible far to the southwest on clear days. Notable sights include: Tokyo Bay and its reclaimed land zones, Tokyo metropolitan skyline including Shinjuku towers visible to the west, Chiba city and industrial waterfront below, Mount Fuji on the distant southwestern horizon on clear days.
How long is the flight from Detroit to Tokyo?
The flight from Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW) to New Tokyo International (NRT) takes Approximately 13 to 14 hours nonstop.
What does the Detroit to Tokyo flight path pass over?
The great circle route from DTW to NRT tracks northwest over Lake Huron and southern Ontario, then across Hudson Bay or James Bay, over the Canadian subarctic and Alaska Range in southern Alaska, across the Aleutian Islands chain, and then southwest over the North Pacific Ocean approaching Japan from the northeast over Hokkaido and Honshu. Key features include the Great Lakes visible early in climb, the vast boreal forest and tundra of northern Canada, the Alaska Range and possibly Denali visible as distant peaks, the Aleutian volcanic island chain, and the Kuril Islands approaching Japan.