The young Catalan, who has been fascinated by Japan since childhood, arrived in Tokyo in 2019 using a Working Holiday Visa. After returning home briefly during the pandemic, Maria Peñascal decided to move back and establish her professional career. She currently works as a content creator specializing in Japanese culture and tourism through her Instagram @nihonnoyume.
“"If you want to pay little and want to live in Tokyo, you have possibilities, even if they are small."
Peñascal was surprised by the possibility of renting a place alone in Tokyo, noting that this was much harder in Barcelona. Her first home was small but met her needs: “It was a little house of 30 square meters. It wasn't very big, but I could cook, use the bathroom, shower, I had my room with my things, I made it my own,” she explains.
Although Tokyo is the most expensive area, Peñascal insists that living there is manageable with local salaries, even allowing for travel and consumer spending. She also points out that the heavily devalued yen makes Japan an extremely affordable destination for those earning euros.
She also highlighted the vast price differences between the capital and rural areas. In small villages, often avoided due to mountainous terrain and difficult access during winter, houses can be purchased for as little as 10,000 euros, though they typically require renovation and dealing with the local insect population.
