NRT to LAX: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Narita (NRT) to Los Angeles (LAX) is a 8,753 km (5,439 mi), roughly 10h 48m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime NRT to LAX 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 |
What you’ll see on this flight
Left side. It gets the better views and the shade, so you have one clear pick for this route.
Sit left for this NRT to LAX flight. The left side gets the better views and the shade, so it wins on both counts.
Takeoff
On climbout from NRT, depending on the runway in use, the left side looks toward Tokyo and Saitama, with Lake Kasumigaura slipping by about a minute after takeoff. The right side has Tokyo Bay and Chiba.
En route
- 10h 08m in← LeftSan Francisco
About 10 hours in, San Francisco comes in on the left. The city sits low and dense, with the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island just after it.
- 10h 08m in← LeftGolden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is also on the left, near the San Francisco pass. You see the span from high above, not edge-on at window level.
- 10h 09m in← LeftOakland
A minute later, Oakland is on the left too. It reads as a broad urban patch rather than a single landmark.
- 10h 13m in← LeftSan Jose
A few minutes after that, San Jose stays on the left. It is another city view, spread out and hard-edged from cruise height.
- 10h 38m in← LeftBakersfield
Later in the descent, Bakersfield appears on the left. It is a last inland city view before the approach tightens up.
Landing
On approach to LAX, depending on the runway in use, the left side keeps Anaheim, Irvine, and Santa Ana in view. The right side gets Long Beach, with Oxnard showing earlier in the descent.
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 LAX?
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 NRT to LAX 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 NRT to LAX?
The great-circle distance is 8,753 km (5,439 mi), which works out to roughly 10h 48m 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 for NRT to LAX?
Sit on the left. It gets the better views and the shade on this route.
What will I see on the left side from NRT to LAX?
After takeoff you can pick out Tokyo and Saitama, then later San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Oakland, San Jose, and Bakersfield.