NRT to SEA: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Narita (NRT) to Seattle (SEA) is a 7,655 km (4,757 mi), roughly 9h 30m 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 SEA 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 | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Right |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Right |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views are pretty even, so they do not settle the seat choice. Go with the shade side for comfort.
This route does not pick a clear views side. You get a mix on both sides, so the shade side is the better default. Keep an eye out for Japan after takeoff, then Alaska and coastal British Columbia later on.
Takeoff
Soon after takeoff, depending on the runway in use, the left side gives you Tokyo, Tokyo Bay, Chiba, and Saitama spread across the city edge. About 2 minutes in, Lake Kasumigaura appears on the left as a bright water shape.
En route
- 5h 18m inRight →Mount Cleveland
About 5 hours in, Mount Cleveland comes into view on the right as a dark volcanic cone.
- 5h 49m in← LeftMount Shishaldin
Around 5 hours 50 minutes in, Mount Shishaldin sits off the left side, another sharp volcano profile.
- 8h 28m in← LeftGwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site
About 8 and a half hours in, this protected reserve stays on the left. You mostly see a remote coastal landmass from cruise height.
- 9h 22m inRight →Olympic Peninsula
Near the end, the right side picks up the Olympic Peninsula, a broad land shape in northwest Washington.
- 9h 22m inRight →Olympic National Park
Also late in the flight, Olympic National Park sits on the right, adding another large green block to the approach.
Landing
On descent, depending on the runway in use, the left side gets Seattle very late and nearly underneath you, so it is brief. The right side then takes over with Tacoma, Mount Rainier, and the Cascade Range. Lake Washington stays to the left just before landing.
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 SEA?
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 SEA 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 SEA?
The great-circle distance is 7,655 km (4,757 mi), which works out to roughly 9h 30m 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 NRT to SEA?
The views are balanced, so they do not decide the seat. Pick the shade side, which is left.
What do you see on the NRT to SEA flight?
You start with Tokyo-area views on the left, then see Alaska volcanoes, a protected coast in British Columbia, and a right-side approach over Tacoma and Mount Rainier.