David McElhinney

Biography

I’m a Northern Irish freelance writer, journalist, author and editor based in the UK and Tokyo. I have spent most of the last decade writing about Japan, publishing stories on travel, arts and culture, current affairs, and international sporting events. I also write longform essays, creative non-fiction, and travel books.

My work has appeared in a range of national and international publications online and in print:

Tokyo Weekender, The Japan Times, Al Jazeera, The Belfast Telegraph, The Independent, The Irish Independent, Lonely Planet, CNN Style, CNN Travel, Deeper Japan Journal, Metropolis, Islands, InTouch Magazine, Intrepid Times, Frommer’s, Matador Network.

My first book, Intrepid Japan, was published in spring 2025 as part of a new travel book series by Australian publisher Hardie Grant in partnership with Intrepid Travel. My second book, the first edition of Frommer’s Japan in over a decade, was published in December 2025.

Destination Expertise

United Kingdom (UK), Northern Ireland, Greece, India, Japan

Specialisms

Adventure Travel, Art Galleries & Museums, Contextual Journalism & Reporting, Local Profiles, Solo Travel, Slow Travel, Walking