Gareth Joyce comments

How typical, farmers are on a god level tier here in NZ. They claim poverty during a drought or extreme flooding but still manage to take the entire family to Disneyland or the Gold Coast every school holidays.

Good grief....I only remember Covid existed when I visit this site. Japan and their media refuse to let it go.

Pathetic.....

Good. Anyone who wants the Yanks out has my support.

Open the borders by years end and I'll be there spending massive amounts of YEN!

Apparently the Governor of Tokyo wants to border fully open by tomorrow....!

@ian

Scotland. I have just spent two month's there. There was zero mention of it when passing through the airport, masks are a thing of the past, I didn't hear or see any mention of Covid case numbers in the news. I am starting to wonder if any of you have actually travelled abroad recently....the world certainly has moved on and Japan has a lot of catching up to do.

More evidence Japan is multiple steps behind the rest of the word in terms of border reopening.

Case number's in an Omicron world are irrelevant. The Japanese media and certain sectors of society seem obsessed with them. Reminds me of what little old New Zealand was like a few months ago, everyone on the edge of their chair hanging out for the 1pm case number update. It's over Japan, move on like the rest of the world!

@Stephen

You beat me to it! This is exactly what I was thinking of doing every since this rumored unguided tour package thing got leaked. They'll more be used as a go between in the case you get the Vid and register your positive with the authorites. If a full reopening isn't happening by mid December I'm definitely getting crafty with a 'planned itinerary' in order to do my own thing.

Good grief....absolutely archaic. Stop mentioning the other G7 countries when you are miles behind them in terms of border restrictions.

Give it up Japan...it's over. Kushida-san knows this but now the hard part begins of convincing the terrified Japanese population that it's time to move on.

Hahaha good ol' Japan...always two steps behind the rest of the world!

Why is Japan 2,3,4 steps behind the rest of the world in terms of border reopening? Ths Kushida fellow keeps on saying he wants to align the border with the rest of the G7 but things are moving at a glacial pace.

December 1st for fully open borders. Many airlines are increasing frequency around that time.....they must of had the inside word.

Borders fully open for the rich and famous to get photo ops

There's two evils in this world.....religion and money

....and I'm buying Japan

Why are Americans so entitled?

Wow, this allegation will need some extra prayers with his Hillsong nutjobs...

Kushida continually says he wants to align border restrictions with other G7 nations. So when is this going to happen? Every G7 nation has been open for months. I thought New Zealand's border measures were fascial but Japan's are next level stupid at the moment.

Oh cool. so I guess me as an individual tourist will be allowed in the September 27?

Every other G7 nation is open to tourists so why not Japan?

Ol' mate Fumio sure likes his overseas travel while barring tourists from his own country.....

Zero chance of this country fully opening borders by years end....such a shame.

100% some crafty techniques being used to get into Japan for 'business' reasons. There are a few automotive Youtubers I follow who got in for 'business' reasons but in reality they needed 2 weeks of content. Some guy reckoned it took 3 months and help from people on the inside to get his business visa.