TPE to SFO: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Taoyuan (TPE) to San Francisco (SFO) is a 10,391 km (6,457 mi), roughly 12h 43m 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 SFO 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
The right side wins for views, but it is also the sunny side. If you want the landmarks, sit right. If you want less glare, sit left.
You get the best views on the right. That side also catches the sun, so you trade glare for scenery.
Takeoff
On climb-out, sit right for the first views, depending on the runway in use. Taipei and New Taipei sit that side almost immediately, and Yangmingshan National Park passes very close and steeply on the right.
En route
- 1h 26m inRight →Sakurajima
About 1 hour 25 minutes in, Sakurajima sits off your right. You get a clear volcano-and-island shape against the water.
- 1h 26m in← LeftHashima Island
At about the same time, Hashima Island is on your left. You see a small, hard-edged island with abandoned concrete blocks and a seawall.
- 1h 35m in← LeftFukuoka
Around 1 hour 35 minutes in, Fukuoka is off your left. It reads as a large city spread across the coast.
- 2h 06m inRight →Kobe
Near 2 hours 5 minutes in, Kobe is on your right. The Akashi Kaikyō Bridge follows on that side a minute or so earlier, so the right window stays active through this stretch.
- 2h 22m inRight →Japanese Alps
About 2 hours 20 minutes in, the Japanese Alps are on your right. You get a broad mountain range profile, with Mount Ontake, Mount Fuji, and Mount Asama following on the same side.
Landing
On descent, the left side is the one for the final approach, depending on the runway in use. Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge sit left, and the bridge comes nearly under you for a quick close pass.
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 SFO?
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 SFO 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 TPE to SFO?
The great-circle distance is 10,391 km (6,457 mi), which works out to roughly 12h 43m 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 SFO?
Sit on the right. That side has the stronger views on this route, though it is also the sunny side.
What can I see near San Francisco on arrival?
On descent, the left side gets Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge. The bridge passes nearly overhead, so it is brief but close.