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About Rachel

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Hi, I’m Rachel Teo-Murphy.

I’m a lifestyle & travel writer, currently based near Kyoto, in the Kansai region of Japan.

I’ve lived in Japan since 2018, and I’ve travelled extensively throughout the country. I work with digital and print publications and write SEO-driven, lifestyle and travel stories, in English. My work focuses on travel, arts & culture, lifestyle, and food, with a particular interest in the less-travelled regions of Japan. My work has been published by The Japan Times, Time Out, Japan Today, Honeycombers, City Nomads, and other international publications, spanning more than 150 articles on travel, lifestyle, food, and culture.

I’ve also been copywriting since 2016, and I work with digital media agencies where I write SEO-driven, direct-to-consumer (D2C) brand and marketing copy for brands’ landing pages, newsletters, websites, and social media.

Before becoming a writer, I worked in academic journal management, research, and teaching. That background continues to inform my approach to research, fact-checking and source evaluation today. I was born in Singapore, and I studied bioethics, philosophy, and psychology at Monash University, while living in Melbourne, Australia.

I’m an avid plant-lover, devout coffee-drinker, and a picnic enthusiast. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me looking after my many plants, picking up a new hobby, or listening to an audiobook!

Contact Rachel

Testimonials

  • “As a regular contributor to Time Out Osaka, Rachel has written features and news posts on everything from street art to fireworks festivals across the Kansai region, as well as more than 130 event listings to date. She is a skilled and well-organized writer who always delivers on deadline.”

    —Ili Saarinen, Deputy Editor, Time Out Osaka

  • “I've worked with Rachel for over five years, and she has always been my go-to copywriter. What sets her apart isn’t just her writing, it’s the effort and intentionality that she puts into every word. Whether she's drafting long-form articles or curating social media content, her work is always spot-on. Thank you, Rachel, for your incredible work!”

    —Olivia, Public Relations Specialist

  • “It's been an absolute pleasure working with Rachel. She's dedicated and hard working, and has been such a valuable part of our team. We truly appreciate everything we’ve accomplished together! Rachel’s content is well-crafted, engaging, and all her articles have been successfully indexed. Our client has also been getting great impression volumes too!”

    —Paveena, Marketing Director, Admano Inc.

  • “Rachel has excellent verbal and written skills. She is organized, trustworthy, thoughtful, and has the wonderful ability to adapt to any situation! I highly recommend her as an invaluable addition to your team.”

    —Maya, Coordinator and Manager

  • “I am impressed by the dedication Rachel shows towards her work. Rachel managed a lot of the information, communication, and technological (ICT) aspects of the journal. She re-established our social media presence, which has been very effective in reaching out to new readers. She has also been meticulous in documenting previous manuscripts that have been published over the years, and has been effective and efficient in managing the administrative needs and requirements of the journal.”

    —Calvin Ho, former Editor-in-Chief, “Asian Bioethics Review”

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