Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Tokyo to Istanbul. While the right side wins at takeoff for Tokyo views, the left side dominates the majority of the flight. Westbound at cruise altitude, the left side tracks the southern exposure across central China, the Tibetan Plateau's southern edge, northern India, and then delivers the spectacular Istanbul arrival over the Marmara. The Istanbul approach alone is one of the great urban arrival views in aviation.

During takeoff from Tokyo International (HND), sit on the Right side for the best views. Haneda's dominant departure runway 34R/L sends aircraft northward over Tokyo Bay before turning west. The right side gives you a clear view back over central Tokyo, including the dense urban grid of Shinagawa and Shibuya, with Tokyo Tower and the broader Yamanote loop visible on clear days. The left side faces open bay water with little of interest. Notable sights include: Tokyo Bay, central Tokyo urban grid (Shinagawa/Shibuya districts), Tokyo Tower, Yokohama waterfront to the south.

When landing at Ataturk (IST), sit on the Left side for the best views. Ataturk Airport's primary arrival runway 06 brings aircraft in from the west over the northern Marmara Sea coast, tracking northeast. The left side faces south, giving a sustained view of the Sea of Marmara, the Istanbul city skyline including the historic peninsula with Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, and the Bosphorus strait. The right side faces north toward suburban sprawl with no comparable landmarks. Notable sights include: Sea of Marmara, Istanbul historic peninsula (Sultanahmet district with Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque), Bosphorus Strait, Prince's Islands in the Marmara.

The flight from Tokyo International (HND) to Ataturk (IST) takes Approximately 12 to 13 hours.

The route tracks west-northwest from Tokyo across the Korean Peninsula, then across northeastern China and the Gobi Desert margins, over the Tibetan Plateau's northern reaches or across central China depending on routing, then across Central Asia including Kazakhstan's steppe, the Caspian Sea (visible as a large inland body of water), northern Iran or the Caucasus Mountains, and finally the Black Sea coast before descending into Istanbul. The Caspian Sea and Caucasus range are the most visually distinctive midpoint features at cruise altitude.