HND to OKA: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Tokyo (HND) to Naha (OKA) is a 1,555 km (966 mi), roughly 2h 20m 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 OKA 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 | Both | Night |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Both | Night |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Sit on the right. You get the stronger views there, and it is also the shade side.
Sit on the right. The same side gives you the better views and the shade on this route.
Takeoff
On departure from HND, depending on the runway in use, the right side gives you Tokyo right away. As you climb, Chiba sits to the left while Sagamihara, Saitama, and Funabashi stay on the right.
En route
- 8m inRight →Mount Fuji
About 8 minutes in, Mount Fuji is off the right side. It sits far out, so you see the cone, not a close-up.
- 29m inRight →Kyoto
Around 29 minutes in, Kyoto is on the right. This is a broad city view, with Osaka, Nara, and nearby towns stacking up behind it.
- 34m inRight →Kobe
About 34 minutes in, Kobe is on the right. It comes with the wider Osaka area around it, so the window stays busy for a few minutes.
- 51m inRight →Shikoku
Roughly 51 minutes in, Shikoku appears on the right as a large island shape. It reads more as a big landmass than a single feature.
- 1h 33m inRight →Yakushima
About 93 minutes in, Yakushima is still on the right. It comes in late and brief, a small island view rather than a long look.
Landing
On descent into OKA, depending on the runway in use, keep the right side for Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands. Both pass nearly under you, so the view is steep and brief before Naha comes up on the left.
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 OKA?
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 OKA 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 OKA?
The great-circle distance is 1,555 km (966 mi), which works out to roughly 2h 20m 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 from HND to OKA?
Sit on the right. It has the stronger views, and it is also the shade side.
Will I see Mount Fuji on this flight?
Yes. Mount Fuji is on the right about 8 minutes after takeoff.