Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Fort Myers to Tokyo. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. During the transpacific cruise, the left side also faces south toward the Aleutian Islands chain as the great circle route arcs over the North Pacific, offering occasional glimpses of volcanic island peaks above cloud layers. The right side has little to offer over the open ocean.

During takeoff from Southwest Florida International (RSW), sit on the Left side for the best views. RSW typically departs runway 06 heading northeast, which puts the left (north) side facing Charlotte Harbor, Pine Island Sound, and the Gulf of Mexico coastline. You get a clear view of the barrier islands and the intricate estuary system as the aircraft climbs out over Southwest Florida. Notable sights include: Charlotte Harbor, Pine Island Sound, Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Cape Coral canal grid.

When landing at New Tokyo International (NRT), sit on the Left side for the best views. NRT typically lands on runway 34L or 34R heading south, placing the left (east) side facing Tokyo Bay and the urban core of Tokyo. You get a sweeping view of the bay, the dense city grid, and on clear days the distant outline of the Boso Peninsula across the water. Notable sights include: Tokyo Bay, central Tokyo urban grid, Boso Peninsula, Chiba coastal industrial zone.

The flight from Southwest Florida International (RSW) to New Tokyo International (NRT) takes Approximately 14 to 15 hours.

The great circle route from RSW to NRT tracks northwest over the Gulf of Mexico, crosses the continental US toward the Pacific Northwest, then arcs over the Gulf of Alaska and along the Aleutian Island chain before descending toward Honshu. Key features include the Rocky Mountains visible during the continental crossing, the volcanic peaks of the Aleutians such as Shishaldin and Pavlof on the left side, and the vast empty North Pacific. The route passes south of Kamchatka Peninsula before crossing the Japanese coast near Tohoku.