HND to ORD: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Tokyo (HND) to Chicago (ORD) is a 10,124 km (6,291 mi), roughly 12h 25m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime HND to ORD 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 | Right | Left | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Right |
| December solstice | Right | Both | Right |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side wins for views, and it also takes the sun. If you want the best look outside, sit left and expect more glare.
Go left for the clearest views, but that same side also gets the sun. You trade glare for the better window.
Takeoff
On departure from HND, depending on the runway in use, the left side starts with Tokyo and then pushes past the city edge. Right after that, Chiba and Lake Kasumigaura sit across the cabin, so the first minutes are a mixed view.
En route
- 1h 31m in← LeftIturup
About an hour and a half in, look left for Iturup. It is an island view, so you see it as a dark shape against sea and sky.
- 3h 01m in← LeftAvachinsky
Around three hours in, Avachinsky comes up on the left, with Koryaksky nearby on the same side. You get a volcanic profile rather than a broad landscape.
- 6h 45m inRight →Denali
Roughly six and a half hours in, Denali sits to the right. It is a distant mountain view, so keep that in mind if you are not on the shade side.
- 11h 02m in← LeftWinnipeg
Near the last hour of the flight, Winnipeg is off the left side. That is your stronger city view before the descent starts.
- 12h 18m in← LeftMilwaukee
Late on descent, Milwaukee appears on the left. It is one of the clearest urban landmarks before you reach Chicago.
Landing
On arrival at ORD, depending on the runway in use, the left side is the better window for Chicago. The city comes in on that side, so stay left if you want the final approach view.
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 ORD?
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 ORD flights?
For sunrise or sunset views, sit on the side the table marks as the sun side for your departure time — that is where the light is.
How long is the flight from HND to ORD?
The great-circle distance is 10,124 km (6,291 mi), which works out to roughly 12h 25m in the air on this northbound 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 ORD views?
Sit on the left. That is the view side for this route, and it also gets the sun.
Will the right side still have anything to see on HND to ORD?
Yes, but less. The right side picks up a few moments like Chiba, Lake Kasumigaura, the Kuril Islands, and Denali.