Here is a code that add tabs in right side of a window from top to bottom in swings.

import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;

public class SetTabLocation extends JPanel {
    public SetTabLocation() {

        this.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
        this.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(400, 200));

        JTabbedPane pane = new JTabbedPane(JTabbedPane.RIGHT);
        pane.addTab("Tab 1", new JPanel().add(new JLabel("This is Tab 1")));
        pane.addTab("Tab 2", new JPanel().add(new JLabel("This is Tab 2")));
        pane.addTab("Tab 3", new JPanel().add(new JLabel("This is Tab 3")));
        this.add(pane, BorderLayout.CENTER);
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        JPanel panel = new SetTabLocation();
        panel.setOpaque(true);
        JFrame frame = new JFrame("JTabbedPane Demo");
        frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        frame.setContentPane(panel);
        frame.pack();
        frame.setVisible(true);
    }
}