Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Toronto to Tokyo. Left side wins both the departure and arrival phases. During the long transoceanic cruise over the North Pacific, neither side has a significant advantage as the flight passes over open ocean and the Aleutian Island chain, but the left side offers slightly better views of the Aleutian Islands as the great circle route passes near them. Combined with the superior Toronto departure and Tokyo arrival views, left is the clear overall choice.

During takeoff from Downsview (YZD), sit on the Left side for the best views. Downsview's primary runway 15/33 means a northbound departure on Runway 33 puts downtown Toronto and Lake Ontario on the left side. You get a clear view of the CN Tower, the downtown core, and the lake shoreline as the aircraft climbs and turns eastward. Notable sights include: CN Tower and downtown Toronto skyline, Lake Ontario shoreline, Toronto Islands, Scarborough Bluffs visible to the east.

When landing at New Tokyo International (NRT), sit on the Left side for the best views. NRT's primary arrival runways 34L/34R bring aircraft in from the south over the Chiba Peninsula. A left-side seat gives views over Tokyo Bay, the dense Tokyo metropolitan area to the west, and Mount Fuji on the distant horizon on clear days. Right side faces the Pacific Ocean and rural Chiba farmland. Notable sights include: Tokyo Bay and waterfront, Tokyo metropolitan skyline to the west, Mount Fuji on the horizon (clear days), Chiba urban sprawl below.

The flight from Downsview (YZD) to New Tokyo International (NRT) takes Approximately 13 to 14 hours.

The great circle route from Toronto to Tokyo arcs northward over Lake Huron, across northern Ontario and Manitoba, then over the Hudson Bay region before crossing into the Yukon and Alaska. The flight passes near or over the Aleutian Island chain in the North Pacific, offering occasional glimpses of volcanic peaks and island chains below. The remainder of the route crosses the open North Pacific before descending toward Honshu and the Kanto Plain.