Six Months in Asia: Trip Resources

Postcards from Asia, Part 27

Jul 09, 2025

Dear friends,

I’m sharing a list of my favorite newsletters from people whose countries I visited during my six-month stay in Asia, as well as those whose work helped me when planning my trip.

Writer Franco Wong and his wonderful family invited me to dinner in Hong Kong

Please note: Some writers now make their home in another part of the world, while others have family from these regions. Others are not from the region but their guides helped with trip planning.

Japan

Japan A to Z: The definitive newsletter when it comes to planning your trip to Japan. Hideo is a professional guide and knows everything about traveling around Japan. He was also kind enough to be interviewed for my newsletter!
Letters from Japan: Burcu offers in-depth writing and photography about living and traveling in Japan, including helpful posts on hiking the Kyoto Trail.
Japan Uncovered: Yuri writes informative posts about Japanese culture, life in the UK, and her own international trips from a Japanese perspective. She was also kind enough to feature me in her newsletter!
Secrets from Japan and Beyond: Sneha Nagesh is based in Osaka and writes about slow, contemplative travel, the interplay between tech and daily life, and the green spaces that bind cities to nature.
Satoyo, Born & Raised in Japan: Satoyo lives in Kyoto and writes about Japanese culture, traditions, and mentality through these experiences.
Dr Miki from Japan Wellness Lab: Dr. Miki combines medical expertise with cultural insight to help health-conscious travelers discover Japan’s approach to longevity and preventive care.
Walter James from Power Japan: Walter writes about Japan's decarbonization and its role in global energy transition.
Flavio Massignan from I only take pics: Flavio gave me tons of great tips for Japan, where he’s traveled and volunteered.
Conbini Boys 🐣🍗 : The quintessential newsletter about Japan’s beloved convenience store culture. A trip is not complete without a visit to FamilyMart, Lawson, or 7-11.

Exploring Busan with LA-based writer SJ Bahk

South Korea

The SJ Project: I met LA-based writer SJ while traveling in Busan. We instantly clicked and met again in Nara, Kyoto, and Okinawa. She writes about exploring her father’s neighborhood in Korea, dealing with burnout while traveling, and re-entering the Los Angeles lifestyle after years of living away.
Add This To Your Itinerary: Marloes offers thoughtful destination guides, especially this one about autumn in South Korea that helped me plan my trip.
I Have a Question: Barcelona-based food writer Janey Lee gave me fantastic tips for Seoul including these free walking tours. Janey documents her journey to become “a Michelin-star home cook.” She shares about cooking with Catalan and Korean-inspired recipes as she builds her food empire.
The Possible City: Korea-based US writer Patrick M. Lydon writes about urban ecology in Japan and South Korea.
The World According to Tharp: Busan-based writer Chris Tharp writes humorous insights and travel stories while living in South Korea for 20 years.
Life of a Travel Writer: I met Courtney while in Seoul, my first friend from the travel newsletter community! She writes about publishing her first travel memoir.

Meeting up in Seoul with travel writer Courtney Cardini

Malaysia

Tai Tales: One of my favorite newsletters, Elizabeth Tai writes about the delights of Chinese and Malaysian culture.
Conscious Living: Rachel Ooi writes stories from her journey in conscious living, including this thoughtful piece about her hometown of Taiping, Malaysia.
ER Kumar🇲🇾: ER Kumar, from the Cameron Highlands, offers stunning photography of Malaysian landscapes that span several decades.
Borneo's Voices & Stories: Calvin Jemarang, a writer from Sarawak, highlights stories centering “the voices of Borneo’s communities—told from within, not from above.”
Travelling Lens Insider: Originally from Penang, Janice Kho, an Australian writer based in Texas, teaches better ways to travel while documenting the journey through photography.

Hong Kong

Franco Wong: I had the great pleasure of meeting Franco and his family in Hong Kong. Franco writes about moving back home to Hong Kong, his experiences as a father, and offers an outlet for those who wish “to live a meaningful, intentional, and slower life.”
Polyglot Claudia: A data scientist and Harvard alum originally from Hong Kong, Claudia has learned nine languages and lived on four continents. Her newsletter offers language learning hacks, cultural insights, and travel tales.
Every Tiny Thought (Honorary Mention): Although she doesn’t live in Hong Kong, California-based writer Yuezhong gave me excellent tips on exploring the city. She writes about travel, belonging in the US, and musings on childhood and pregnancy.

Taiwan

The Naive Ignorant: A self-described "millennial immigrant,” he gave me helpful tips about traveling in Taiwan, including this fun post about searching for posters in Taipei.
Stack Natin (Honorary Mention): Although showcasing Filipino voices, Niko Batallones gave me great tips for Taiwan and shared his experiences in South Korea.

Indonesia

The Gentle Roadmap: Sekar Langit shares reflections of experiencing life as it unfolds, allowing more sustainable habits aligned with purpose.
Travel: NE Where: Narina offered helpful insights into diving sites in Indonesia and visited some of the same areas in Java as me!
The Philippines and Its Historical and Cultural Connections (Honorary Mention): I didn’t visit the Philippines, but Datu Kidlat’s post comparing Indonesian and Filipino culture was incredibly enlightening.

Singapore

by the way: I definitely used Becca’s tips for my trip to Singapore. She has also written helpful guides on Malaysia and taking transport around Southeast Asia
Around the World in 80 Scrapes: I found Kate’s analysis of Singaporean hawker culture fascinating, and she’s also published pieces about Japan and Hong Kong.