Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Francisco to Osaka. The left side wins overall. The San Francisco departure view with the Golden Gate and city skyline is iconic and hard to beat. Mid-flight over the North Pacific both sides are equally featureless ocean. On arrival the right side is better for Osaka, but the departure spectacle on the left is the highlight of the journey.

During takeoff from San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. SFO typically departs northwest on runways 28L/28R, then turns north over the Bay. Left side gives you San Francisco city, the Bay Bridge, and the Golden Gate as the aircraft banks. Right side faces the peninsula and suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco downtown skyline, Bay Bridge, Alcatraz Island.

When landing at Kansai International (KIX), sit on the Right side for the best views. KIX sits on an artificial island in Osaka Bay. Aircraft typically approach from the east or southeast on runway 06L/06R, meaning the right side faces north toward Osaka city, Kobe, and the Rokko Mountains rising behind the coast. Left side looks south over open water. Notable sights include: Osaka city skyline, Kobe waterfront and port, Rokko Mountains, Osaka Bay.

The flight from San Francisco International (SFO) to Kansai International (KIX) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours.

The great circle route arcs north over the North Pacific, passing south of the Aleutian Islands chain. Passengers may glimpse the Aleutian island arc as small dark volcanic islands in a gray sea if flying close enough. The route then descends toward Japan, crossing the Japanese coastline near the Kii Peninsula or Shikoku depending on routing, with the mountainous interior of Shikoku and the Seto Inland Sea visible before descent into Osaka Bay.