ICN to KIX: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Seoul (ICN) to Osaka (KIX) is a 860 km (535 mi), roughly 1h 31m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime ICN to KIX 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 | Both | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Right |
| September equinox | Both | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins for views, but it is also the sunny side. If you want the best scenery, choose right and expect glare on a daytime flight. If you want calmer light, the left side is the shade side.
Sit on the right. That side gets the strongest views, and it also takes the sun. The left side is the shade side.
Takeoff
After takeoff from ICN, depending on the runway in use, the left side first gets the Korean Peninsula, Seoul, Seongnam, and Ganghwa Island. Suwon sits very close and almost beneath you on the right, so that one flashes by fast.
En route
- 26m inRight →Daegu
About half an hour in, Daegu appears on the right as a solid city shape below the wing.
- 33m inRight →Busan
A bit later, Busan is on the right too, along with Ulsan nearby. This is a strong right-side stretch.
- 42m inRight →Korea Strait
Around 40 minutes in, the Korea Strait lies off the right side as the flight crosses the water between Korea and Japan.
- 48m in← LeftLiancourt Rocks
Near 50 minutes in, the Liancourt Rocks are on the left. They are brief and distant, not a long look.
- 1h 19m inRight →Shikoku
On descent, Shikoku stays on the right as a broad island shape before the final approach.
Landing
On descent into KIX, depending on the runway in use, the left side gets Kobe, Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara near the end. Awaji Island comes in on the right just before landing, so the last minutes stay split.
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 ICN to KIX?
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 ICN to KIX 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 ICN to KIX?
The great-circle distance is 860 km (535 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 31m 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.
Which side of the plane should I sit on for ICN to KIX?
Sit on the right for the best views. That side also gets the sun on this eastbound daytime flight.
What will I see on the ICN to KIX flight?
You get a fast takeoff over the Seoul area, a right-side run past southern Korean cities and the Korea Strait, then right-side views of Shikoku before landing.