Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Phoenix to Osaka. Right side wins overall. The Phoenix departure on the right gives genuinely dramatic desert mountain scenery over the Sonoran Desert and then the Colorado River crossing. Across the Pacific the views are largely featureless ocean on both sides, so the departure experience tips the balance. The landing at KIX is close, but the right side on approach also gives a view of the Osaka urban sprawl and the Rokko Mountains, which is arguably more interesting than open bay water.

During takeoff from Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), sit on the Right side for the best views. PHX primarily uses runways 7L/7R (eastbound departures) or 26L/26R (westbound). For the typical westbound-then-north routing toward Japan, departing on runway 26 heading west, the right (north) side gives you a clear view of the Phoenix metro grid, Camelback Mountain, and the McDowell Mountains. Left side faces south toward South Mountain and the desert flats. Notable sights include: Camelback Mountain, McDowell Mountains, Scottsdale urban grid, Salt River bed.

When landing at Kansai International (KIX), sit on the Left side for the best views. KIX sits on an artificial island in Osaka Bay. Aircraft typically approach from the east or northeast over land before swinging over the bay to land westward on runway 06L/24R. On final approach heading west, the left (south) side looks across Osaka Bay toward the Kii Peninsula, while the right side faces north toward Osaka city and the Rokko Mountains. Left gives the more dramatic water-and-coastline view of the bay itself. Notable sights include: Osaka Bay, Kii Peninsula coastline, Awaji Island, KIX artificial island approach.

The flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) to Kansai International (KIX) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours.

After departing Phoenix the route crosses the Colorado River and Mojave Desert, then the California coast near Los Angeles or Ventura County before heading out over the North Pacific. The great circle route arcs northward over the central Pacific, passing south of the Aleutian Islands chain. The Japanese coast is typically first crossed near the Kii Peninsula or the Tokai region of Honshu. Mid-flight over the open Pacific there are no visible landmarks, though on clear days the volcanic peaks of the Aleutian arc may appear as distant white cones on the northern horizon if the routing passes close enough.