Left side wins both takeoff and landing with the Manhattan skyline departure and the Mount Fuji and Tokyo Bay arrival. The polar great circle route also keeps the left side oriented generally southward over the Pacific, offering daylight views of the Aleutian Island chain and Kamchatka Peninsula coastline during the mid-flight hours.
Flown JFK to NRT? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
New York to Tokyo is 6,729 miles (10,830 km), a flight of about 13 hours 30 minutes.
The route follows a polar great circle arc tracking northeast over New England and Nova Scotia, then across southern Greenland or Labrador, arcing over the northern Pacific. Key features include the Aleutian Islands chain visible as a dotted arc of volcanic islands in the North Pacific, the Kamchatka Peninsula with its snow-covered volcanic peaks, and the Sea of Okhotsk before descending over Hokkaido and Honshu toward Tokyo. The route stays well north of Hawaii, passing closest to land near the Aleutians at roughly the midpoint.
Great circle distance and headings ›.jpg?width=600)
.jpeg?width=600)
Phase by phase
Takeoff from JFK
LEFTJFK's primary departure runways 31L/31R send aircraft on a northwest heading over Jamaica Bay and then across Brooklyn and Manhattan. The left side gets a direct broadside view of Lower Manhattan's skyline, the Hudson River, and the full sweep of New York Harbor as the aircraft banks north.
Landing at NRT
LEFTNRT's primary landing runways 34L/34R bring aircraft in from the south on a northward heading. The left side faces west, giving a clear view of Mount Fuji on the horizon roughly 100 miles away on clear days, plus the Tokyo metropolitan sprawl and Tokyo Bay as the aircraft descends over Chiba Prefecture.
Will your flight be in sunlight?
Pick a date and time in the Sun Map to watch the sun move across your whole flight.
About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to New Tokyo International (NRT)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Tokyo. Left side wins both takeoff and landing with the Manhattan skyline departure and the Mount Fuji and Tokyo Bay arrival. The polar great circle route also keeps the left side oriented generally southward over the Pacific, offering daylight views of the Aleutian Island chain and Kamchatka Peninsula coastline during the mid-flight hours.
What can I see during takeoff from John F Kennedy International in New York?
During takeoff from John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK's primary departure runways 31L/31R send aircraft on a northwest heading over Jamaica Bay and then across Brooklyn and Manhattan. The left side gets a direct broadside view of Lower Manhattan's skyline, the Hudson River, and the full sweep of New York Harbor as the aircraft banks north. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline and Lower Manhattan, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Hudson River, Jamaica Bay wetlands directly below on climb-out.
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's primary landing runways 34L/34R bring aircraft in from the south on a northward heading. The left side faces west, giving a clear view of Mount Fuji on the horizon roughly 100 miles away on clear days, plus the Tokyo metropolitan sprawl and Tokyo Bay as the aircraft descends over Chiba Prefecture. Notable sights include: Mount Fuji on the western horizon, Tokyo Bay, Tokyo metropolitan area, Chiba Prefecture coastal lowlands directly below.
How long is the flight from New York to Tokyo?
The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to New Tokyo International (NRT) takes about 13 hours 30 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 6,729 miles (10,830 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the New York to Tokyo flight path pass over?
The route follows a polar great circle arc tracking northeast over New England and Nova Scotia, then across southern Greenland or Labrador, arcing over the northern Pacific. Key features include the Aleutian Islands chain visible as a dotted arc of volcanic islands in the North Pacific, the Kamchatka Peninsula with its snow-covered volcanic peaks, and the Sea of Okhotsk before descending over Hokkaido and Honshu toward Tokyo. The route stays well north of Hawaii, passing closest to land near the Aleutians at roughly the midpoint.