Left side wins at both ends of the flight. At departure you get Munich city and the English Garden; at arrival you get Tokyo Bay and the full metropolitan panorama. During the cruise over Siberia the views are largely symmetric, but the left side also faces slightly more toward Lake Baikal's southern tip depending on the exact routing.
Flown MUC to NRT? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
Munich to Tokyo is 5,820 miles (9,367 km), a flight of about 12 hours.
The polar route tracks northeast over Austria and the Czech Republic, then across Poland and the Baltic states, over western Russia and the Ural Mountains (a broad, low ridge visible as a subtle topographic wrinkle), then across the vast West Siberian Plain, Lake Baikal (a long dark sliver of deep blue water surrounded by forested ridges), the Stanovoy Range in eastern Siberia, the Sea of Okhotsk, Sakhalin Island, and the Japanese coast at Hokkaido before descending toward Honshu and Narita.
Great circle distance and headings ›Phase by phase
Takeoff from MUC
LEFTMunich typically departs eastbound on runway 08R/08L, so the left (north) side gives you a clear view back over Munich city center as you climb out. You can see the Marienplatz area and the English Garden before the aircraft turns northeast toward the flight path.
Landing at NRT
LEFTNarita typically lands on runway 34L/34R from the north, meaning the aircraft approaches from over the Pacific and Chiba Prefecture. The left (west) side faces Tokyo Bay and the Tokyo metropolitan skyline, including the visible urban sprawl of the world's largest city. The right side looks out over rural Chiba farmland.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Munich (MUC) to New Tokyo International (NRT)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Munich to Tokyo. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. At departure you get Munich city and the English Garden; at arrival you get Tokyo Bay and the full metropolitan panorama. During the cruise over Siberia the views are largely symmetric, but the left side also faces slightly more toward Lake Baikal's southern tip depending on the exact routing.
What can I see during takeoff from Munich in Munich?
During takeoff from Munich (MUC), sit on the Left side for the best views. Munich typically departs eastbound on runway 08R/08L, so the left (north) side gives you a clear view back over Munich city center as you climb out. You can see the Marienplatz area and the English Garden before the aircraft turns northeast toward the flight path. Notable sights include: Munich city center and Marienplatz, English Garden (Englischer Garten), Isar River corridor, Olympiapark stadium complex.
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. Narita typically lands on runway 34L/34R from the north, meaning the aircraft approaches from over the Pacific and Chiba Prefecture. The left (west) side faces Tokyo Bay and the Tokyo metropolitan skyline, including the visible urban sprawl of the world's largest city. The right side looks out over rural Chiba farmland. Notable sights include: Tokyo Bay, Tokyo metropolitan skyline and urban grid, Tokyo Skytree (visible as a slender tower on clear days), Chiba coastal lowlands.
How long is the flight from Munich to Tokyo?
The flight from Munich (MUC) to New Tokyo International (NRT) takes about 12 hours. The shortest flight path between them is 5,820 miles (9,367 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the Munich to Tokyo flight path pass over?
The polar route tracks northeast over Austria and the Czech Republic, then across Poland and the Baltic states, over western Russia and the Ural Mountains (a broad, low ridge visible as a subtle topographic wrinkle), then across the vast West Siberian Plain, Lake Baikal (a long dark sliver of deep blue water surrounded by forested ridges), the Stanovoy Range in eastern Siberia, the Sea of Okhotsk, Sakhalin Island, and the Japanese coast at Hokkaido before descending toward Honshu and Narita.