Nationality: Swedish and American (dual citizenship)
Time Living in Japan: About 16 years.
Employer: Self-employed / Freelance
Current Job Title: Freelance Writer, Editor and Translator
Skills: Writing, Editing
Area of Expertise: Culture, Travel and Tourism
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in International Business Management (University of Queensland, Australia)
Language Ability: English (Native), Swedish (Advanced), Japanese (Advanced)
Recently Published Work:
- This is Tokyo: 10 nature escapes without leaving the metropolis
- A Locals-Approved Guide to Tokyo’s Hidden Treasures
- The Ultimate Guide to Isumi, Chiba: A Foodie’s Paradise by the Sea
- Unveiling Tohoku, Japan’s Deep North
- Sharpening the Story
- A Two-Day Immersive Stay in Gokayama: Where Culture, Craft, and Cuisine Endure
Bio:
Lisa Wallin is a freelance writer and editor based in Japan, specializing in culture, innovation, and travel. Born in Sweden to a Swedish–American family and raised across multiple countries, she brings a cross-cultural perspective to her work. She has lived in Osaka, Miyazaki, and Tokyo, and now divides her time between Chiba and Tokyo.
Her writing focuses on the intersection of tradition and forward-looking ideas, profiling entrepreneurs, artisans, researchers, and regional leaders shaping contemporary Japan. She contributes to a range of international and Japan-based publications, covering topics including sustainability, craftsmanship, and destination development.
Drawing on her background in multilingual environments, Lisa is particularly interested in how identity, place, and communication influence professional and creative expression. Outside of her writing, she studies canine behavior and learning theory.
Favorite Thing About Living in Japan:
Even after many years in Japan, I’m still discovering new places, people and perspectives.
Favorite Place to Visit in Japan:
It’s hard to choose, but the Amami Islands stand out for their wild, diverse topography. It’s an area that feels unmistakably Japanese, yet somehow apart from it.
What Has Kept You in Japan:
I’ve stayed in Japan because it feels both familiar and full of possibility at the same time.
Favorite Place to Visit Outside Japan:
Sweden will always feel like home to me—especially its forests and archipelago—but I’m also drawn to places with strong regional identity and dramatic landscapes, like the Faroe Islands and Alsace in France.
What Changes Have You Noticed During Your Time Living in Japan:
I’ve seen gradual but meaningful shifts toward greater diversity and openness, especially in how companies communicate and how regional areas present themselves to the world.