KIX to ICN: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Osaka (KIX) to Seoul (ICN) is a 860 km (535 mi), roughly 1h 31m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime KIX to ICN 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 | Both | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Both |
| September equinox | Both | Left | Night |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side gives you the better views, and it also sits in the sun. Pick left if you want the route’s main scenery, but expect more glare there.
This route favors the left side for views, but that side is also the sunny side. So you get the better outlook with more glare. If you leave in the evening, the left side still takes the sun.
Takeoff
After takeoff, depending on the runway in use, the first city cluster stays to the right: Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and then Kobe a couple of minutes in. The left side is the one to watch once you are climbing out, with Awaji Island appearing about 3 minutes after departure.
En route
- 10m in← LeftTakamatsu
About 10 minutes in, Takamatsu is off the left side.
- 12m in← LeftShikoku
A little after that, Shikoku sits to the left as a broad island shape, easy to pick out.
- 24m in← LeftHiroshima
Around 24 minutes in, Hiroshima is also on the left side.
- 43m inRight →Liancourt Rocks
About 43 minutes in, the Liancourt Rocks pass on the right, small and easy to miss if you are not looking.
- 58m in← LeftBusan
Near 58 minutes in, Busan shows up on the left as you come across South Korea.
Landing
On descent, depending on the runway in use, the right side gets the final approach views: the Korean Peninsula, then Seoul a minute later, and Ganghwa Island by touchdown. Suwon sits very close to the aircraft on the left and nearly passes under you, so it comes and goes fast.
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 KIX to ICN?
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 KIX to ICN flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the left side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from KIX to ICN?
The great-circle distance is 860 km (535 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 31m 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 of the plane should I sit on from KIX to ICN?
Sit on the left for the best overall views. Just know it is also the sunny side on this westbound flight.
What will I see from KIX to ICN?
You get Japanese cities and islands after departure, then South Korean cities on the way in, including Hiroshima, Busan, and Seoul.