NRT to ICN: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Narita (NRT) to Seoul (ICN) is a 1,257 km (781 mi), roughly 1h 59m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime NRT 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 | Left | Left | Night |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Night |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side gives you the better views, and it is also the sun side. That means the best scenery comes with more light in the window. If you are flying later in the day, the light softens a bit, but the left still does the heavy lifting for views.
Fly on the left for the best views, but that side also catches the sun. You get the tradeoff: clearer landmarks, more glare.
Takeoff
On climb-out, the left side starts strong, depending on the runway in use. You can see Tokyo, Tokyo Bay, Chiba, and Funabashi early on, with Lake Kasumigaura off to the right.
En route
- 13m in← LeftMount Fuji
About 13 minutes in, Mount Fuji stands out on the left as a clean, wide cone above the lower ground.
- 25m in← LeftMount Ontake
About 25 minutes in, Mount Ontake sits on the left and reads like a distinct high volcano against the surrounding terrain.
- 29m in← LeftJapanese Alps
Around 29 minutes in, the Japanese Alps stretch along the left as a broken mountain line, not a single peak.
- 32m inRight →Noto Peninsula
Near the half-hour mark, the Noto Peninsula is off to the right, a long strip of land pushing into view.
- 1h 14m inRight →Liancourt Rocks
Much later, around 74 minutes in, the Liancourt Rocks appear on the right and pass quickly.
Landing
On descent, depending on the runway in use, the right side gets the closest look at the Korean Peninsula, Seoul, and Ganghwa Island. The Korean Peninsula and Seoul are nearly overhead, so they slide past fast and steep. Suwon is off 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 NRT 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 NRT to ICN 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 NRT to ICN?
The great-circle distance is 1,257 km (781 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 59m 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 should I sit on from NRT to ICN?
Sit on the left. It has the better views on this route, though it is also the sunny side.
What can I see on the way from Narita to Incheon?
You get Tokyo and Tokyo Bay early, then Mount Fuji, the Japanese Alps, and later the Liancourt Rocks on the right.