David McElhinney

Photo of David McElhinney
Follow
Location
Bristol, United Kingdom
School
Manchester Metropolitan University
Expertise
Japan and East Asia, Adventure Travel, Hiking trails
  • David grew up in Northern Ireland, but it was in Japan — where he lived for seven years — that he began writing about travel, news, art, and culture for newspapers and magazines.
  • He has also worked in the U.S., China, and Australia, and has traveled extensively throughout Southeast Asia and Europe.
  • He's now based in Bristol, England, and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers.

Experience

David is a seasoned travel journalist who has written for publications including Tokyo Weekender, The Japan Times, Al Jazeera, The Belfast Telegraph, The Independent, The Irish Independent, CNN, Lonely Planet, Intrepid Times, and Deeper Japan Journal. His first book, "Intrepid Japan," was published in spring 2025 as part of a travel book series. His second book, the first edition of "Frommer's Japan" in more than a decade, was published in early 2026. He also recently produced and directed his first film, a documentary short called "The Way Back To Eden."

Islands Editorial Policies

Islands content is created by a team of veteran writers and editors passionate about travel. Outside experts with deep field knowledge sometimes inform our work with additional context and perspectives by way of exclusive commentary. Our goal is to offer readers well-rounded and diverse articles that inform, entertain, and inspire.

Our editors consistently review and update articles to ensure they're providing current, relevant, and useful information. Complete information on our editorial process is available here.

Stories By David McElhinney

Back
Next