ICN to NRT: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Seoul (ICN) to Narita (NRT) is a 1,257 km (781 mi), roughly 1h 59m 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 NRT 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 | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Sit right for the views, but know that the right side is also the sunny side. If you want the better scenery, take the glare with it.
You have the better views on the right. That is also the sunny side, so expect glare in exchange for the stronger lookouts.
Takeoff
Soon after takeoff, keep left for a quick look at Ganghwa Island and the Korean Peninsula, depending on the runway in use. The right side then picks up Suwon.
En route
- 45m in← LeftLiancourt Rocks
About 45 minutes in, the Liancourt Rocks sit off the left side. It is a small, isolated pair of rocky islands, easy to miss if you are not already looking.
- 1h 26m in← LeftKanazawa
Around 86 minutes in, Kanazawa is on the left. It reads as a compact city shape, with the coast lined up farther left in the same stretch.
- 1h 27m in← LeftNoto Peninsula
Just after that, the Noto Peninsula stays to the left. You see a long slice of land pushing into the water, not a close-up pass.
- 1h 34m inRight →Mount Ontake
About 94 minutes in, Mount Ontake is off the right. It stands well away from the aircraft, a clear mountain profile rather than a close pass.
- 1h 46m inRight →Mount Fuji
Roughly 106 minutes in, Mount Fuji is on the right. It is the classic lone volcanic cone, and this is one of the strongest right-side moments on the route.
Landing
On descent, the right side keeps the best run of views, depending on the runway in use. You pass Mount Ontake, the Japanese archipelago, Mount Kita, Mount Fuji, and then Tokyo, Tokyo Bay, Chiba, and Funabashi all stack up on that side, with Lake Kasumigaura staying to 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 ICN to NRT?
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 NRT 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 ICN to NRT?
The great-circle distance is 1,257 km (781 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 59m 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 should I sit on from ICN to NRT?
Sit on the right. It has the stronger views on this route, even though it is also the sunny side.
Will I see Mount Fuji on this flight?
Yes, on the right side during descent, around 106 minutes in.