About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Frankfurt Main (FRA) to New Tokyo International (NRT)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Frankfurt to Tokyo. Left side wins both takeoff and landing. Over the flight path itself, the left side also faces south, giving views of Siberian river systems and the Korean Peninsula coastline during descent. The right side faces north into the Arctic interior for most of the polar routing, which is less visually interesting.
What can I see during takeoff from Frankfurt Main in Frankfurt?
During takeoff from Frankfurt Main (FRA), sit on the Left side for the best views. Frankfurt departures on runway 07L/07R head eastward, and a left-side seat gives you a view south over the Rhine-Main plain and the Taunus hills. You can pick out the Frankfurt skyline receding behind you and the Main River snaking westward below. Notable sights include: Frankfurt city skyline and Commerzbank Tower, Main River bends, Taunus hills to the north, Rhine valley to the southwest.
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 typically uses runways 34L/34R for northerly arrivals, approaching from the south over Tokyo Bay. A left-side seat on approach gives you a direct view over Tokyo Bay, the Tokyo waterfront, and the dense urban grid of the city stretching inland. The right side faces mostly the Pacific and Chiba Prefecture farmland. Notable sights include: Tokyo Bay and waterfront, Tokyo city center and urban grid, Chiba Prefecture coastline, Mount Fuji on the distant western horizon on clear days.
How long is the flight from Frankfurt to Tokyo?
The flight from Frankfurt Main (FRA) to New Tokyo International (NRT) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours.
What does the Frankfurt to Tokyo flight path pass over?
The great circle route from FRA to NRT tracks northeast over Poland and the Baltic states, then across southern Finland and into Russia over the Ural Mountains. The flight then crosses the vast West Siberian Plain and the Yenisei and Lena river systems — enormous braided rivers visible as silver threads across the taiga. Over eastern Siberia the route passes near Lake Baikal, visible as an elongated dark blue body of water in clear conditions. The final descent crosses the Sea of Japan and the Korean Peninsula before approaching Japan from the southwest over Honshu.