ORD to HND: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Chicago (ORD) to Tokyo (HND) is a 10,124 km (6,291 mi), roughly 12h 25m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime ORD to HND 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 | Left |
| June solstice | Left | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins on both counts: better views and the shade side.
Sit on the right. The same side gets the better views and the shade on this route, so it does the work for you.
Takeoff
After takeoff from ORD, depending on the runway in use, Chicago sits off the right side as you climb out.
En route
- 7m inRight →Milwaukee
About 7 minutes in, Milwaukee comes up on the right during the climb.
- 1h 23m inRight →Winnipeg
Around 83 minutes in, Winnipeg appears on the right as a compact city view.
- 4h 04m inRight →Nahanni National Park Reserve
About four hours in, Nahanni National Park Reserve is off to the right. It stays a distant green block at this height.
- 9h 24m inRight →Avachinsky
Near 9½ hours in, Avachinsky is on the right. It sits low and sharp against the landscape.
- 10h 54m inRight →Iturup
About 11 hours in, Iturup is on the right before the long descent begins.
- 12h 07m inRight →Fukushima
On descent, about 12 hours in, Fukushima passes on the right before you drop toward Japan.
Landing
Near landing at HND, depending on the runway in use, Tokyo comes in on the right, with Chiba and Lake Kasumigaura on the left side of the approach.
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 ORD to HND?
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 ORD to HND 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 ORD to HND?
The great-circle distance is 10,124 km (6,291 mi), which works out to roughly 12h 25m in the air on this northbound 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 ORD to HND?
Sit on the right. It has the stronger views and is also the shade side.
What do you see on this flight?
You get city views early, then a long stretch of remote terrain and islands, and Tokyo on approach.