Lia Tee
Freelance Travel Writer, Travel Lemming
Instagram | Facebook | Substack | Website
For 15+ years, Lia has been exploring Japan and has visited all 47 prefectures. She loves relaxing in a Japanese onsen ryokan and dining on sushi omakase. When not travelling, days are spent in her studio, Tokyo Kaleidoscope – reconstructing vintage Japanese kimonos into bespoke pieces, heading up into the mountains to renovate an old akiya, or reclaiming her love of reading and creative travel writing. Her other Japan travels are shared on her website and her Instagram @ryokanwanderings.
🏠 Local to: Melbourne, Australia & Tokyo, the mountains, Japan
📍 Currently: Probably soaking in an onsen somewhere in Japan
🌟 Favorite Destinations: Australia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Borneo, Cambodia, Ecuador (the Galapagos Islands – magical), Italy (pasta, pasta, pasta), Japan, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Peru (hiking Machu Picchu – a childhood dream realised), Philippines (El Nido – stunning waters), Portugal (the Azores Islands – beautiful), Sri Lanka (Sigiriya Rock, the elephant migration & whale watching)
🎓 Education: RMIT University: Bachelor of Business Management (Entrepreneurship), Melbourne School of Fashion: Certificate in Patternmaking & Tailoring
✔️ Fun Facts: I was bored one year, so I decided to pitch a book to a publisher. It was accepted. It was published last autumn: “Onsen & Ryokan of Japan”. I function better on less sleep; between 4 – 6 hrs is the sweet spot for me. If I have too much, I become extremely accident-prone. If a book has fully absorbed me, I’m oblivious to the world. Something will have to be thrown at me (or shout at me) to get my attention. I absolutely abhor coffee and anything coffee-flavoured, including tiramisu with a passion (an oddity considering I’m Melbourne born & bred)
Meet Lia
📚 What was Your Favorite Travel Experience or Story?
There are so many that come to mind, so here’s a few snippets:
Japan:
Learning the ancient Kimono techniques of making Kaga Yuzen kimonos from a third-generation kimono master. Having a private Japanese kaiseki dinner with two renowned Geisha, dinner, drinks, conversation, a musical performance, and fun traditional Japanese drinking games. The life stories told to me from venerable shokunin (artisan masters) and families that have owned onsen ryokans for multiple generations.
Galapagos Islands:
Swimming with playful sea lion pups in the ocean, meeting the Galapagos Tortoises and the adorable Blue & Red Footed Booby Birds
Machu Picchu:
Hiking the Inca Trail for several nights to reach Machu Picchu. In between, my husband proposed to me in the quiet ruins of another Inca city few get to see.
Sri Lanka:
Waiting on a boat in the middle of an ocean patiently when a whale swam up beside us and gently lifted its majestic head out of the ocean to say hello.
Italy:
Being shepherded by two independent sheepdogs down a mountainside in Umbria when I travelled solo. Full story on my Substack.
🗺️ What’s Your #1 Expert Travel Tip?
Eat that weird local dish that you’re not sure what it is. Highly likely it will be delicious. Learn to say basic phrases in the language of the country you’re travelling to. Always be polite, say please and thank you, smile – it can make all the difference. Always have some local cash and coinage on you. Always have tissues/wet wipes – the amount of public toilets that always seem to have run out!
🧳 Backpack or Suitcase?
Both – I buy too many books, food, and wine to take back home with me to only go with a backpack.
✈️ Window or Aisle Seat?
Either/Or depending on the flight. Generally I get stuck in the middle seat on a long haul flight if travelling with the husband since he needs the extra leg room an aisle seat provides.
