Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Queenstown International to Tokyo. The right side delivers the most dramatic single moment of the flight during Queenstown departure with the full Wakatipu basin and Remarkables on display. Over the Coral Sea and Pacific the views are largely ocean on both sides, but the right side also gets a slightly better angle on the Japanese coastline approaching from the south. The Queenstown departure alone makes right the stronger overall pick.

During takeoff from Queenstown (ZQN), sit on the Right side for the best views. Queenstown Airport's primary runway 05/23 means departures heading northeast give the right side a direct view over Lake Wakatipu's long narrow finger stretching toward Glenorchy, with the Remarkables range rising sharply to the southeast. The right side also captures the Ben Lomond massif looming directly above the town. Notable sights include: Lake Wakatipu (full length visible during climb), The Remarkables range, Ben Lomond, Coronet Peak ski area.

When landing at Tokyo International (HND), sit on the Left side for the best views. Tokyo Haneda's dominant arrival runway 34L/34R brings aircraft in from the south over Tokyo Bay, and the left side faces east toward the city center, giving a clear view of the Tokyo waterfront, Odaiba, and the dense urban grid of central Tokyo including the distinctive Tokyo Tower and Skytree on the horizon. The right side faces west toward Kawasaki industrial zones with less visual interest. Notable sights include: Tokyo Bay and waterfront, Odaiba reclaimed island, Tokyo Skytree (634m, visible from distance), Rainbow Bridge.

The flight from Queenstown (ZQN) to Tokyo International (HND) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours nonstop.

The route tracks northeast from Queenstown across the Canterbury Plains and Banks Peninsula on the South Island coast, then out over the Tasman Sea. It crosses the northern tip of New Zealand's North Island near East Cape, then heads north-northwest over the open Pacific. The flight passes east of New Caledonia and Vanuatu in the Coral Sea region, then crosses the Tropic of Cancer before descending toward the Ryukyu Islands chain and the Japanese home islands. The final approach crosses the Izu Peninsula or Boso Peninsula depending on routing before reaching Tokyo Bay.