Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Tokyo to Shanghai. The right side delivers the more dramatic takeoff experience with Tokyo Bay and a potential Mount Fuji sighting, which is the visual highlight of the route. The landing view on the left is worthwhile but the flat delta approach to PVG is less spectacular. If forced to choose one side for the whole flight, right wins on the strength of the departure.

During takeoff from Tokyo International (HND), sit on the Right side for the best views. HND typically departs southwest on Runway 34L/R or northeast on 16L/R depending on winds. For westbound departures toward Shanghai, aircraft often climb out over Tokyo Bay and bank southwest. The right side captures Tokyo Bay, the dense urban grid of central Tokyo, and on clear days the iconic cone of Mount Fuji to the southwest at roughly 60 miles distance. Notable sights include: Tokyo Bay, Mount Fuji (60 miles SW), Yokohama port and waterfront, Kawasaki industrial zone.

When landing at Shanghai Pudong International (PVG), sit on the Left side for the best views. Flights from Tokyo approach PVG typically from the east or northeast, with the airport sitting on the eastern edge of Shanghai. Aircraft on approach from the northeast will have the Yangtze River mouth and the sprawling Shanghai urban core visible on the left side, including the distinctive Pudong skyline with the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower cluster. Notable sights include: Yangtze River mouth (Chongming Island), Pudong financial district skyline, Huangpu River winding through central Shanghai, Hangzhou Bay coastline to the south.

The flight from Tokyo International (HND) to Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) takes Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours.

The flight crosses the East China Sea, a largely featureless open ocean stretch at cruise altitude. The Ryukyu Islands chain (Okinawa and surrounding islands) may be visible as small specks far to the south depending on routing. The Korean Peninsula coastline is occasionally visible to the north on clear days at cruise altitude. The approach to Shanghai crosses the shallow, sediment-rich waters of the East China Sea shelf, which appear distinctly brown and murky compared to deeper ocean, and the low flat coastline of Jiangsu Province before reaching the Yangtze delta.