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HND to SFO Turbulence Forecast

Is the Tokyo to San Francisco flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast
HND
→
SFO
Tokyo · San Francisco · 9h 20m
10
Turb Score
9h 20m
Duration
5,130 nm
Distance
40,000 ft
Cruise Alt.
Moderate
Typical
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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for HND–SFO

Smooth Light Moderate
0h1h2h3h4h5h6h9h 20m
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Heavy

About the HND–SFO route

The Tokyo to San Francisco route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 5,904 miles. The Pacific jet stream creates moderate turbulence, typically around 3–7 hours into the flight. The sheer length of the route means passengers experience varying conditions: calm stretches punctuated by bumpy patches.

The route is served by Japan Airlines, ANA, United on Boeing 787 · Airbus A350 · Boeing 777 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 40,000 feet over a distance of 5,904 miles (5,130 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Long flight — turbulence varies throughout. Wing seats significantly reduce motion.

Turbulence levels on HND–SFO

What to expect at each phase of the flight

SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm
LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady
ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause
HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible

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Best time to fly HND–SFO

Turbulence by month

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Rough

Best seat on HND–SFO

Boeing 787-9

Front
Rows 1–20
Light
✓ Wing
Rows 21-32
Smoothest
Rear
Rows 33+
Rougher
Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

HND to SFO turbulence forecast app
Flight turbulence tracker
Real-time turbulence map

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

NRT → SFO
Tokyo → San Francisco
Moderate
HND → LAX
Tokyo → Los Angeles
Moderate
HND → LHR
Tokyo → London
Moderate
See all transpacific flights →
All HND routes→ All SFO routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Tokyo to San Francisco flight turbulent?
The HND–SFO route typically experiences moderate turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected. The turbulence score for this route is 10/100.
When is turbulence worst on HND to SFO?
Long flight — turbulence varies throughout. Wing seats significantly reduce motion. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.
Which seat is smoothest on HND to SFO?
Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 787-9 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 21-32. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.
How long is the flight from HND to SFO?
The HND to SFO flight takes approximately 9h 20m, covering 5,904 miles (5,130 nautical miles).
Which airlines fly HND to SFO?
The main airlines operating this route are Japan Airlines, ANA, United, flying Boeing 787 · Airbus A350 · Boeing 777 aircraft.

Data Sources

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data