Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Shanghai to Tokyo. The right side wins overall because the Shanghai departure view is significantly more rewarding than the Haneda arrival view on either side. The Huangpu River, Pudong skyline, and Yangtze delta are genuinely spectacular from the right on climb-out, and during the cruise over the East China Sea the right side also faces south toward the Ryukyu Islands chain if visibility is good. The Tokyo arrival on the left is good but the right side's departure advantage tips the balance.

During takeoff from Hongqiao International (SHA), sit on the Right side for the best views. Hongqiao's primary departure runway 18L/36R means northbound departures climb out heading roughly northeast toward Tokyo. The right side gives you a clear view over central Shanghai, the Huangpu River bends, and the dense urban grid of Puxi before the city gives way to the Yangtze River delta flatlands. Left side faces west toward suburban sprawl with little of interest. Notable sights include: Huangpu River S-bends through central Shanghai, Pudong skyline and Oriental Pearl Tower visible to the east, Yangtze River mouth delta wetlands, Chongming Island flat agricultural patchwork.

When landing at Tokyo International (HND), sit on the Left side for the best views. Haneda primarily uses runways 34L/34R for northerly arrivals or 22/23 for westerly approaches. On the common approach over Tokyo Bay from the south or east, the left side faces northwest directly over central Tokyo — you get a clear view of the Tokyo urban core, the Imperial Palace grounds, and Tokyo Bay's western shore. Right side looks out over the open bay and Chiba Prefecture with less visual interest. Notable sights include: Tokyo Bay western shoreline and reclaimed land, central Tokyo urban grid with Imperial Palace green space visible, Yokohama port and bay area to the southwest, Kawasaki industrial waterfront.

The flight from Hongqiao International (SHA) to Tokyo International (HND) takes Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours.

The route crosses the East China Sea, which is largely open water at 200-400 miles wide at this latitude. On clear days the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa chain) may be faintly visible to the south from cruising altitude. The Japanese coast is approached over Shizuoka Prefecture or the Izu Peninsula depending on routing, where Mount Fuji (3,776m) is frequently visible from both sides of the aircraft as a dominant snow-capped cone rising above surrounding terrain — one of the most reliably visible landmarks on any East Asia route.