Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Tokyo to Seattle. The Seattle approach on the right side delivers the most dramatic single view of the flight — Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and the Seattle skyline simultaneously on a clear day. The Tokyo departure on the left is excellent but the right side wins overall because the landing scenery is more consistently spectacular and the transpacific routing keeps the right side oriented toward the North American coastline as you descend.

During takeoff from Tokyo International (HND), sit on the Left side for the best views. HND primarily uses runways 34L/34R for northbound departures, meaning a left-side seat faces west over Tokyo Bay and gives a sweeping view of the city grid, Rainbow Bridge, and the reclaimed island terminals. Right side faces inland toward suburban sprawl with less visual interest on departure. Notable sights include: Tokyo Bay, Rainbow Bridge, Odaiba waterfront district, the dense urban grid of central Tokyo receding to the northwest.

When landing at Seattle Tacoma International (SEA), sit on the Right side for the best views. SEA-TAC typically uses runways 16L/16R for southbound landings, meaning the aircraft approaches from the north. Right-side seats face west toward Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains across the water, and the Seattle skyline passing by on final approach. Left side faces east toward the Cascade foothills with less dramatic scenery on approach. Notable sights include: Puget Sound, Seattle city skyline, Olympic Mountains across the Sound to the west, Mount Rainier visible to the southeast on clear days.

The flight from Tokyo International (HND) to Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) takes Approximately 9 to 10 hours westbound, 8 to 9 hours eastbound (HND to SEA is a shorter eastbound crossing due to jet stream).

The great circle route arcs northeast over the North Pacific Ocean, passing south of the Aleutian Islands chain (Alaska), crossing the Gulf of Alaska, and making landfall over the rugged coastline of southern Alaska or British Columbia. The ocean crossing offers little visual interest at cruise altitude beyond cloud cover and occasional sea ice near the Aleutians, but the final descent over the Pacific Northwest coast reveals the heavily forested Vancouver Island and the Strait of Juan de Fuca before the approach into Seattle.