Flight from SFO to Narita (Tokyo)

99+% of the flight is over water. And there's no guarantee that the takeoff and landing will be without cloud cover. I dont think it matter which side to sit on.

I would choose the right side of the plane so i could have the window shade open but not have the direct sun coming in.

I agree with Joe32F, and would avoid the side with direct sun. In your case, go with right side.

Right side of the plane outbound, left side on the return. Facing north-ish. Less direct sunlight, and a chance of seeing an aurora. The view outside - even over the open Pacific - is always magical, for those that have not become jaded to the miracle of flight.

Hopefully you are on JAL (or ANA). It’s a lovely experience and a wonderful way to cross the Pacific.

I have flown LAX to Narita and I was able to look out both sides.

Most of your flight, you will have the same view from both sides......water.

My true rememberance of my JAL flight in business was that you could order ramen anytime. The guy next to me--I was in the middle section-- loved his ramen. Must have ordered it at least three times. With the divider up, and my noise canceling headphones on, I could still hear him slurping.

Really annoying when you're trying to rest.

My true remembrance of my first JAL flight in business was…many things, not the least of which was the Japanese “bathroom” experience, even on a plane. What a country!

Looking forward to going back in November.

I forgot about the Japanese toilet on the JAL plane.

Thank you all for your replies, I'll see what's available on the seating chart. Now you piqued my curiosity, what's a Japanese bathroom, is it similar to the Turkish bathrooms?

The JAL bathroom is like any other airline bathroom, only cleaner. Its the toilet itself that makes it diffrent. Just Google Japanese toilet

they are very high tech - a squirt of water and hot air to clean your bum!

People are suggesting the right side so you can leave the window shade up without direct sunlight.

However, if you're on a 787, there's no window shade, just a dimmer, and it's often controlled by the flight attendants so that it's kept dark in the cabin while people want to sleep (or while they want people to sleep).

I just flew LAX to NRT (ANA business class), sat on the left side, and saw virtually nothing until we were coming in for a landing, at which point it makes no difference which side you're sitting on. I like the left side so I can watch the jet bridge move away at the beginning of the flight. Gives me a sense of anticipation.

The Japanese toilet. You will find them all over.....Japan. They are an experience.

Play with all the buttons....LOL.

Agree with right side. You won’t be seeing any auroras as it will be all in daylight. Some flights to Japan are over land for a surprisingly long time, and you can get some amazing scenery in northern Canada and Alaska, but that’s more typical of flights leaving from further east, such as Delta from Detroit, and a San Francisco routing is more likely to be almost entirely over water. It used to be the case that you might see something of far eastern Siberia as well but no longer, as the flights (at least all the US airlines and I expect the Japanese ones also) stay out of Russian airspace.

One additional comment on the restrooms. In addition to the cleanliness and washlet style toilets, the restrooms in ANA business class - and I expect the same for JAL - have a fold down platform. So if you want to change but don't want your stocking feet to be on the bathroom floor, you can lower that panel and stand on it while you change. Somewhat ironic as ANA and JAL restrooms are already the cleanest I have seen on any airline but that feature is a typical touch of the attention to detail you often find in Japan.