Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Tokyo to Istanbul. While the left side wins at takeoff for Tokyo Bay views, the right side delivers the more dramatic payoff on arrival with the Bosphorus, Golden Horn, and historic Istanbul all visible in a single descent sequence. The right side also tracks better over Central Asian terrain including Lake Baikal's southern tip and the Caspian Sea region during cruise.

During takeoff from New Tokyo International (NRT), sit on the Left side for the best views. NRT typically departs on runway 16R/34L or 16L/34R. Northbound departures heading toward Russia swing left (west), giving the left side a clear view of Tokyo Bay and the dense urban sprawl of Greater Tokyo. The right side faces the Pacific Ocean with little of interest. Notable sights include: Tokyo Bay, Greater Tokyo urban grid, Chiba Peninsula coastline, distant Boso Peninsula.

When landing at Ataturk (IST), sit on the Right side for the best views. IST Ataturk Airport sits on the European side of Istanbul. Arrivals typically come in from the east or northeast over the Bosphorus corridor. The right side (north-facing) gets the clearest view of the Bosphorus Strait, the historic peninsula with Sultanahmet, and the Golden Horn as the aircraft descends over the city. Notable sights include: Bosphorus Strait, Golden Horn inlet, Sultanahmet historic peninsula, Sea of Marmara.

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

The route tracks northwest over the Sea of Japan, across Siberia and the Mongolian steppe, over Kazakhstan's flat semi-arid plains, the Caspian Sea (visible from altitude as a large inland body of water), the Caucasus Mountains between Georgia and Russia, and the Black Sea before descending into Istanbul