David McElhinney, Author at VOYAPON

David McElhinney

I’m a Northern Irish freelance travel and culture writer who’s spent the last three years battering the keyboard in Tokyo. I like to travel, eat good food, drink good drink, play rugby, and butcher the Japanese language.

3 articles

Articles by David McElhinney

ocean and cliff views at Sandanbeki Cliff

How to Spend a Day Cycling in Japan through Wakayama’s Shirahama

February 10, 2021 Airports, Beaches & Islands, Car Rentals, Cycling, National Parks, Onsen & Sento, Ryokan, Sponsored, Wakayama

I’m a big believer in cycling as the optimum method of exploring a new area — especially cycling in Japan. As I cycled up and down the expanse of Shirahama (白浜) in Wakayama Prefecture on two wheels, my preconceived notions were confirmed. ...

Cape Shionomisaki coastline and ocean view in Japan

A Guide to Scuba Diving in Kushimoto and Other Top Sights

February 10, 2021 Beaches & Islands, Diving & Snorkeling, First Time in Japan, Kansai, Sponsored, Wakayama, Winter

I remember watching a ‘making-of’ episode of a nature documentary a few years back, where divers plunged into icy cold waters wearing drysuits — a form of underwater overall designed to keep out not only the water but the temperature...

A Guide to Hiking the Pilgrimage Trails of Kumano Kodo

February 10, 2021 Culture, Hiking, Historic Sites, Mountains, Sponsored, Temples & Shrines, Wakayama

For well over a thousand years, the Japanese have been making ascetic and symbolic pilgrimages along the mountainous trails of the Kumano Kodo (熊野古道). To hike the Kumano Kodo is to embark on one of Japan’s most ancient spiritual journeys,...