When is the Tokyo to San Francisco route most turbulent?

See the monthly chart above for exact patterns. Transatlantic and mountain routes are typically roughest in winter (Dec–Mar). Tropical and Caribbean routes peak during monsoon season (Jul–Sep).

What aircraft operates the NRT to SFO route?

The NRT–SFO route is typically operated by Boeing 777 · Boeing 787. Airlines include United Airlines, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways.

Is turbulence on NRT to SFO dangerous?

No — turbulence on the NRT–SFO route is not dangerous to the aircraft. Modern commercial aircraft are built to withstand far more stress than any turbulence encountered. The main risk is to unbelted passengers. Always keep your seatbelt fastened when seated.

How can I check turbulence before my NRT to SFO flight?

Use the Turbulence Forecast app (iOS & Android) for real-time PIREPs, SIGMET alerts, and AI-powered forecasts for the NRT–SFO route. The app shows minute-by-minute turbulence timing for your specific flight date.

NRT to SFO Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Tokyo to San Francisco flight turbulent?

The NRT–SFO route typically experiences moderate turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on NRT to SFO?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 777 · Boeing 787, that's rows 22–40. Avoid the rear of the aircraft where turbulence is felt most.

Q: How long is the flight from NRT to SFO?

The NRT to SFO flight takes approximately 11h 45m, covering 5,918 miles (5,142 nautical miles) at a cruising altitude of 38,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

NRT

→

SFO

Tokyo · San Francisco · 11h 45m

Turb Score

11h 45m

Duration

5,142 nm

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Moderate

Typical

⚠️ Moderate turbulence today

Get exact timing, altitude & best seat — free

Download free on the App Store ★★★★★ 4.8 · 20K+ reviews Get it on Google Play ★★★★★ 4.8 · 20K+ reviews

★★★★★ 4.8 · 20,000+ reviews · iOS & Android

Scan to get the full forecast ★★★★★ 4.8 · 20,000+ reviews · iOS & Android · Free

Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for NRT–SFO

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h11h 45m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the NRT–SFO route

The Tokyo to San Francisco route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 5,918 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 United Airlines, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways on Boeing 777 · Boeing 787 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 38,000 feet over a distance of 5,918 miles (5,142 nautical miles).

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

Tokyo to San Francisco Flight Time

How long is the flight from NRT to SFO?

11h 45m

Flight Time

5,918 mi

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 777

Aircraft

The Tokyo (NRT) to San Francisco (SFO) flight takes approximately 11h 45m, covering 5,918 miles (5,142 nautical miles) at 38,000 feet. The route is operated by United Airlines, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways. Return flights (SFO to NRT) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on NRT–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

Get minute-by-minute timing for your specific flight

Download on the App Store ★★★★★ 4.8 · 20K+ reviews Get it on Google Play ★★★★★ 4.8 · 20K+ reviews

Best time to fly NRT–SFO

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on NRT–SFO

Boeing 777

Front

Rows 1–21

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 22–40

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 41+

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

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

SFO → NRT

San Francisco → Tokyo

San Francisco → Seoul

Moderate

SFO → HNL

San Francisco → Honolulu

See all transpacific flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

Track any flight in real time

→

Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

→

Clear-Air Turbulence

The invisible rough air that's increasing

→

Turbulence in 2025

Is turbulence getting worse?

→

Is Turbulence Dangerous?

What the safety data shows

→

Passenger Reports

Rough patch crossing the dateline in May — drinks went everywhere on the row behind me. Probably 45 minutes of actual turbulence. Nothing dangerous but definitely uncomfortable.

Business traveler · May

The mid-Pacific section was legitimately rough. I was holding on to the armrests. Lasted maybe 40 minutes. One of the flight attendants had to sit down. Not a fun 11h 45m flight but we landed fine.

Solo traveler · August

Moderate turbulence over the North Pacific — the kind where you're glad you kept your seatbelt on. Lasted about 30-40 minutes, then smoothed out. I've had worse on transatlantic routes.

Frequent flyer · April

All NRT routes→ All SFO routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Tokyo to San Francisco flight turbulent?

The NRT–SFO route typically experiences moderate turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated. The turbulence score for this route is 68/100.

When is turbulence worst on NRT 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 NRT to SFO?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 777 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 22–40. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from NRT to SFO?

The NRT to SFO flight takes approximately 11h 45m, covering 5,918 miles (5,142 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly NRT to SFO?

The main airlines operating this route are United Airlines, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, flying Boeing 777 · Boeing 787 aircraft.

Data Sources

PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route

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