Todd Fong, Author at VOYAPON

Todd Fong

Freelance writer, photographer, and mentor. Japan-based, Oaktown (Oakland, California) born. Freelance writing and photography work includes Lonely Planet, Voyapon, Metropolis Japan, and many regional tourism websites around Japan.

111 articles

Articles by Todd Fong

An Epic Four-Day Itinerary for a Taste of Extraordinary Kyushu

January 31, 2022 Castles, Ferries, Gardens & Parks, Historic Sites, Kumamoto, Kyushu, Luxury Accommodation, Museums & Galleries, Rail Passes, Shinkansen, Sponsored

Adventure is calling your name, and it's called Kyushu. Japan's westernmost island is a natural paradise of geothermic hot springs, rugged mountains, and azure seascapes beckoning to your spirit of adventure. Kyushu is an area full of uncrowded, open spaces,...

craftsman making knife blade at takefu knife village in fukui

Traveling the TAKUMI Road: A Journey through 4 Cities with the Master Artisans of Japan Part 2: Takaoka and Echizen

January 15, 2022 Culture, Fukui, Historic Sites, Kanazawa, Niigata, Sponsored, Temples & Shrines, Toyama

The TAKUMI Road runs along Japan's western coast, collectively known as Hokuriku, from Fukui to Niigata prefectures. It is centered around historically significant shipping ports on the Sea of Japan, connecting the towns where the culture, history, and traditional industries...

silkworm cocoons and silk thread from tomioka silk mill, Japan

How Tomioka City Brought European Fame to Japan in the 19th Century

January 12, 2022 Culture, Gunma, Historic Sites, Kanto, Sponsored

To be a good traveler in Japan, it certainly helps to be a good historian of Japan. Too many times, I find myself passing quickly through some intriguing destinations on my way to more famous landmarks simply because some areas...

trekking to dainoji above myogi shrine in gunma japan

Discovering Gunma’s Shugendo Stronghold on Mount Myogi

January 12, 2022 Gunma, Hiking, Historic Sites, Kanto, Mountains, Sponsored, Temples & Shrines

In Gunma (群馬県), beneath the forest canopy halfway up a great mountain, we ascended an ancient stone staircase, crumbling from the weight of time and the thousands of feet of those who climbed to the shrine above. The 165 stairs...

Could Kochi Be Japan’s Best Kept Secret?

December 23, 2021 Kochi, Sake & Alcohol, Shikoku, Sponsored

I could try to convince you about the many virtues of Kochi Prefecture (高知県), but instead, I'll leave that to Kenneth Mukai, the transplant from Southern California who is now owner of Kochi’s newest craft beer brewery. We met Kenneth...

Art and Soul: Sustainable Tourism on Kagawa’s Ogijima and Teshima Islands

December 23, 2021 Arts, Crafts & Experiences, Beaches & Islands, Cycling, Ferries, Historic Sites, Kagawa, Shikoku, Sponsored, Sustainability & Environment, Temples & Shrines

Over the immutably calm waters of the Seto Inland Sea, we approached the port of Ogijima on the Meon Ferry, one of the dozens of small ferries servicing the many islands of Japan's most famous scenic waterscapes. The village houses...

man and woman making soba noodles in Japan

Hands-On With Shikoku’s Traditional Arts and Crafts

December 23, 2021 Culture, Historic Sites, Shikoku, Souvenirs, Sponsored, Tokushima

As a travel writer, I admit to often focusing too much on the incredible things to see in Japan. It is a visually remarkable country, evident in the countless images of Japan compiled and consumed daily on social media. But...

The Adventurer’s Paradise of Shikoku Island

December 23, 2021 2 Weeks, Diving & Snorkeling, First Time in Japan, Hiking, Language, Mountains, National Parks, Ryokan, Shikoku, Sponsored

The fact that I had made it this far down the canyon, wading and sometimes swimming in the river's cold waters, was something of a miracle to me. As I stood next to the waterfall, the deafening sound of the...

Traveling the TAKUMI Road: A Journey through 4 Cities with the Master Artisans of Japan Part 1: Tsubame Sanjo

December 20, 2021 Culture, Fukui, Niigata, Souvenirs, Sponsored

Hinoura Tsukasa turned the blade over in his hands, his keen eye taking in every detail of his handiwork. Each of the knives made in his workshop, Hinoura Hamono Kobo, is forged entirely by hand, using techniques that Japan's ancient...

eating natto from a container with chopsticks in Japan

How the “Natto Musume” Will Make a Natto Believer Out of You

July 12, 2021 Culture, First Time in Japan, Language, Rice, Ryokan, Sashimi, Sushi, Vegetarian & Vegan

While Japan is a food lover's paradise, there is no universal agreement on what foods people will eat. Some visitors to Japan gasp in horror at the thought of eating raw seafood, various grilled chicken parts, or even things as...

Luxury Japanese guest room with tatami and beds at hoshino resorts kai enshu in Japan

How to Spend a Family Holiday in Hamamatsu City

April 21, 2021 Gardens & Parks, Kaiseki, Onsen & Sento, Ryokan, Shizuoka, Sponsored, Tea

As the world begins its slow return to relative normalcy, you may be one of many ready to scratch that irrepressible itch to travel. Still, the situation requires some caution, including finding destinations with opportunities to travel safely: spacious accommodations,...

monk instruction on zazen meditation at hokoji temple

Traditional Japanese Experiences in Hamamatsu, Close to Tokyo and Kyoto

April 21, 2021 Kyoto, Kyoto, Kyoto, Mountains, Ryokan, Shinkansen, Shizuoka, Sponsored, Temples & Shrines, Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo

In the culture of traditional Japan, the mountains have always held a deeply spiritual connection to the people. There is both beauty and mystery in the densely forested mountains of Japan, where perhaps millions of the Shinto gods recognized by...

The Chichibu Spring Flower Festival Close to Tokyo

April 10, 2021 Gardens & Parks, Local Buses, Rail Passes, Saitama, Shinkansen, Spring, Summer Festivals

On the warm weekend nights of Japanese summers, the skies are lit up with awe-inspiring bursts of fireworks, some displays going on for nearly an hour. Truly, Japan loves its colors, but a few months earlier, the colorful displays take...

family enjoys snowy holiday in iiyama nagano japan

Enjoy a Snowy Family Holiday in Iiyama City

March 20, 2021 Kanto, Mountains, Nabe, Nagano, Nagano, Rail Passes, Shinkansen, Skiing & Snowboarding, Sponsored, Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo, Winter

Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I didn't see my first snow until I was five-years-old. Early in the morning, my mom rolled up a snowball from our front yard and placed it on my bedside table so...

exterior of pension maroudo on Madarao mountain

Homestyle Hospitality at Accommodations in Iiyama City

March 20, 2021 Culture, Cycling, Hiking, Language, Minshuku, Nagano, Onsen & Sento, Ryokan, Skiing & Snowboarding, Sponsored

One of the reasons I enjoy escaping from the confines of the big city is to remind myself of the kindness and generosity of the Japanese people. Don't get me wrong — I have many good friends here in Tokyo...

Accessible Tourism Thrives in Okinawa

March 9, 2021 Accessibility, Beaches & Islands, Diving & Snorkeling, Ferries, First Time in Japan, Okinawa, Okinawa, Okinawa, Okinawa, Sponsored 2 Comments

In 2007, Okinawa drafted Japan’s first Barrier-Free declaration with the aim to welcome all tourists, regardless of their physical limitations, disabilities, or age. Today, the prefecture is making good on that promise to Okinawa visitors starting from your arrival at Naha Airport, where you’ll find the Barrier-Free Tour Center and its friendly staff ready to serve.

Traveling Safely in Okinawa in the Age of Coronavirus

March 9, 2021 Beaches & Islands, Cycling, Diving & Snorkeling, Health Insurance, Hiking, Okinawa, Okinawa, Okinawa, Okinawa, Safety, Sponsored

This much is certain: the COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed the face of travel. But to keep things in perspective, the world has faced significant travel challenges as recently as 2001. With adaptations and precautions, people once again regained their confidence in travel safety, albeit with a few inconveniences.

Kayabuki: The Tradition of Thatched Roof Houses in Japan Near Kyoto

February 3, 2021 Autumn Leaves, Culture, First Time in Japan, Historic Sites, Kansai, Kyoto, Kyoto, Near Osaka and Kyoto, Sponsored

Just outside the crowds of Kyoto city is a world of serene nature, vibrant culture, and deep history that you probably have never heard of before. Oita Prefecture, known mainly for its abundant onsen hot springs, is another area like...

Enjoy the Autumn Colors Outside of Kyoto City

February 3, 2021 Autumn Leaves, Gardens & Parks, Historic Sites, Kyoto, Kyoto, Kyoto, Sponsored

Japanese style deluxe room on Sunflower Ferry Cruise in Japan

From Kyoto to Kyushu: A Mini Cruise on Japan’s Seto Inland Sea

February 3, 2021 Ferries, Kansai, Kyoto, Kyoto, Kyoto, Kyushu, Oita, Osaka, Sponsored 2 Comments

Unexpected Luxury Awaits You in World-Class Accommodations, Onsen, and Cuisine in Beppu

February 3, 2021 Kyoto, Kyoto, Kyoto, Kyushu, Luxury Accommodation, Oita, Onsen & Sento, Sponsored, Volcanoes

The Ancient Japanese Culture and Traditions of Oita Prefecture

February 3, 2021 Culture, Historic Sites, Kyoto, Kyoto, Kyoto, Kyushu, Oita, Sponsored, Temples & Shrines

Island Hopping the 3 Islands of Goto City

January 28, 2021 Sponsored

The name Goto literally means 5 Islands, the number of islands the Goto Islands were traditionally said to contain. The islands are split between the northern islands of Wakamatsu and Nakadori, considered Shin-kamigoto town, and the three southern islands of...