HND to FUK: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Tokyo (HND) to Fukuoka (FUK) is a 882 km (548 mi), roughly 1h 32m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime HND to FUK departures the sun favors the left side — sit on the right (a window on the right) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Left | Left | Night |
| June solstice | Left | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Night |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views are basically even, so let the shade side decide your seat.
You do not get a clear left-or-right win on views here. The route splits attention across both sides, with Fuji early on and a mix of cities, islands, and inland ridges after that. Pick the shade side for comfort and use the window for the best bits as they come.
Takeoff
After takeoff from HND, depending on the runway in use, the first city scenery sits mainly on the right. You may catch Tokyo, Chiba, Funabashi, Saitama, and Hachiōji-shi as the climb starts, but this is quick and close to the ground.
En route
- 10m in← LeftMount Fuji · passes underneath
About 10 minutes in, Mount Fuji comes very close to the flight path on the left. It is the one feature that feels almost under you, so it shows briefly and steeply rather than as a long side view.
- 15m inRight →Japanese archipelago
Around 15 minutes in, the Japanese archipelago sits off the right side as the route pushes west. It reads as a broad island pattern rather than one single landmark.
- 24m inRight →Japanese Alps
Near 24 minutes in, the Japanese Alps are on the right. You see a long mountain mass, not one peak, so the view feels wide and layered.
- 49m in← LeftAwaji Island
About 49 minutes in, Awaji Island comes up on the left. It is a clean island shape against the water, easy to pick out when the light is good.
- 1h 03m in← LeftShikoku
Around an hour in, Shikoku appears on the left. From cruise height it is the biggest landform in this stretch, a broad island shape rather than a sharp detail.
Landing
On descent into FUK, depending on the runway in use, the last views split again. Kitakyūshū and the Kanmon Straits sit on the right, while Kyushu and Saga are on the left, so the final minutes stay balanced instead of favoring one side.
Sides and timings are computed from this route’s geometry. What you actually see depends on weather, air-traffic routing, and the runway in use on the day.
Frequently asked
Which side of the plane avoids the sun from HND to FUK?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the left side of the aircraft, so the right side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose the highest window letter (F on narrowbodies, K on many widebodies).
Which side has the sunset views on HND to FUK flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the right side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from HND to FUK?
The great-circle distance is 882 km (548 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 32m in the air on this westbound routing. Winds and routing move the real block time around that estimate.
Does the date or departure time change the answer?
Yes — that is why the table shows both. The sun's path shifts with the season, and a morning departure can put the glare on the opposite side compared to an evening one. For a specific flight, the calculator samples the sun along the whole route for your exact date and time.
Which side should I sit on for HND to FUK views?
Neither side has a clear edge. Views are balanced, so choose the shade side if comfort matters more.
What is the best landmark on this flight?
Mount Fuji, about 10 minutes after takeoff. It passes very close to the aircraft on the left, so it is brief but strong.