About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Gimpo (GMP) to New Tokyo International (NRT)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Seoul to Tokyo. The takeoff right-side views of Seoul are excellent but brief. The left side wins overall because during cruise over the Korea Strait and Sea of Japan you get unobstructed water views, and the landing approach into Narita on the left delivers the most dramatic payoff: Tokyo Bay, the city grid, and Mount Fuji all in one sweep.
What can I see during takeoff from Gimpo in Seoul?
During takeoff from Gimpo (GMP), sit on the Right side for the best views. Gimpo typically departs eastward on runway 14R/32L or uses runway 14L, meaning a right-side seat gives you views over central Seoul, the Han River snaking through the city, and the urban sprawl toward Namsan and beyond. Left side faces industrial Incheon direction with less visual interest. Notable sights include: Han River and its bridges through central Seoul, Namsan hill and N Seoul Tower, Bukhansan granite peaks to the north, Lotte World Tower in Songpa district.
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 approaches from the northeast on runway 34L/34R in prevailing conditions, meaning aircraft track southward over Chiba Prefecture. Left-side seats get views over Tokyo Bay, the Tokyo waterfront, and on clear days the city grid stretching toward Mount Fuji on the distant horizon to the southwest. Notable sights include: Tokyo Bay and waterfront reclamation islands, Mount Fuji on the distant southwestern horizon, Chiba city and industrial port below, Tokyo city grid visible across the bay.
How long is the flight from Seoul to Tokyo?
The flight from Gimpo (GMP) to New Tokyo International (NRT) takes Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes.
What does the Seoul to Tokyo flight path pass over?
The flight crosses the Korea Strait between Busan and Tsushima Island, then tracks over the Sea of Japan (East Sea). Tsushima Island is visible as an elongated forested island roughly midway across the strait. The flight then crosses Kyushu's northern coast near Fukuoka before heading northeast over Honshu, passing over the mountainous interior of western Honshu and eventually descending over the Kanto Plain toward Narita.