HND to SFO: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Tokyo (HND) to San Francisco (SFO) is a 8,285 km (5,148 mi), roughly 10h 15m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime HND to SFO departures the sun favors the right side — sit on the left (an A seat) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Right | Left | Both |
| June solstice | Both | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Both |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Right |
Frequently asked
Which side of the plane avoids the sun from HND to SFO?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the right side of the aircraft, so the left side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose an A seat.
Which side has the sunset views on HND to SFO 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 SFO?
The great-circle distance is 8,285 km (5,148 mi), which works out to roughly 10h 15m in the air on this eastbound 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.