When is the San Francisco to Tokyo route most turbulent?

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

SFO to NRT Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the San Francisco to Tokyo flight turbulent?

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

Q: Which seat is smoothest on SFO to NRT?

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

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

The SFO to NRT flight takes approximately 10h 45m, covering 5,918 miles at 38,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

SFO

→

NRT

San Francisco · Tokyo · 10h 45m

Turb Score

10h 45m

Duration

5,142 nm

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Moderate

Typical

⚠️ Moderate turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SFO–NRT

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h10h 45m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the SFO–NRT route

The San Francisco to Tokyo 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.

San Francisco to Tokyo Flight Time

How long is the flight from SFO to NRT?

10h 45m

Flight Time

5,918 mi

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 777

Aircraft

The San Francisco (SFO) to Tokyo (NRT) flight takes approximately 10h 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 (NRT to SFO) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on SFO–NRT

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 SFO–NRT

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on SFO–NRT

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

San Francisco → Seoul

Moderate

SFO → HNL

San Francisco → Honolulu

See all transpacific flights →

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Passenger Reports

Flew this in May expecting smooth skies based on past experience, but it was noticeably bumpier than usual. About an hour of moderate chop. Seatbelt sign basically stayed on.

Regular traveler · May

The over the North 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 10h 45m flight but we landed fine.

Solo traveler · January

Moderate turbulence mid-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 SFO routes→ All NRT routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the San Francisco to Tokyo flight turbulent?

The SFO–NRT 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 SFO to NRT?

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 SFO to NRT?

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 SFO to NRT?

The SFO to NRT flight takes approximately 10h 45m, covering 5,918 miles (5,142 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly SFO to NRT?

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