TPE to NRT: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Taoyuan (TPE) to Narita (NRT) is a 2,181 km (1,355 mi), roughly 3h 4m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime TPE to NRT 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 | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Night |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Left wins on both views and shade.
Sit on the left. It gets the best views and the shade on this route, so you do not have to trade one for the other.
Takeoff
After takeoff from TPE, depending on the runway in use, look to the right for Taipei and New Taipei almost right away. Yangmingshan National Park and Taoyuan also sit on that side, with Yangmingshan passing very close under the flight path.
En route
- 1h 32m inRight →Yakushima
About an hour and a half in, Yakushima appears on the right as a small island shape offshore.
- 1h 36m inRight →Tanegashima
A few minutes later, Tanegashima follows on the right, also a clear island view.
- 1h 38m in← LeftKagoshima
Around 1 hour 40 minutes in, Kagoshima is on the left, with Sakurajima just after it on the same side.
- 1h 39m in← LeftSakurajima
Sakurajima comes next on the left and sits close to the flight path, so it is a brief but strong side-window view.
- 2h 51m in← LeftMount Fuji
On descent, Mount Fuji stays on the left and is one of the clearest landmarks before landing.
Landing
On the way into NRT, depending on the runway in use, the left side keeps the useful views. You pass Tokyo and Saitama on that side, then Lake Kasumigaura and Mito near the end.
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 TPE to NRT?
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 TPE to NRT 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 TPE to NRT?
The great-circle distance is 2,181 km (1,355 mi), which works out to roughly 3h 4m 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 TPE to NRT?
Sit on the left. It is the views side, and it is also the shade side.
Will I see Mount Fuji on this flight?
Yes. Mount Fuji is on the left during descent, so the left side is the one to choose for that view.