Tourism Robots help travellers while creating new jobs for people with limited mobility

In Tokyo, small shoulder-mounted robots are now being used to guide tourists, but their inventor has said the project's true aim goes beyond tourism. The devices, named OriHime, are controlled remotely by people who are unable to leave their homes due to illness or physical disability. From a computer or tablet, these individuals serve as "pilots," operating the robot's camera and microphone to speak with visitors in real time. They can observe travellers' reactions, respond to questions, and move the robot's face and hands to express gestures.


Each unit stands about 23 centimetres tall and weighs roughly 700 grams, compact enough to perch on a person's shoulder while providing a voice to those who cannot be physically present.

They are currently used for tours conducted in the Nihonbashi district of the capital's Chuo Ward. The specialised sightseeing package started on 11 September. In one outing, an OriHime sat on the backpack of a tourist. Sharing the same eye level, the robot guide and participant engaged in lively conversations. "The Nihonbashi bridge is the starting point of the five major routes," the robot said. "You can experience what Japanese life is like at this shop." They spent about an hour walking around Fukutokujinja shrine, a long-established store and other landmarks in the area. The android's voice and directions were provided by a resident of Yokohama, near Tokyo, who identified herself only as Kotonoha. An occasional wheelchair user, Kotonoha joined the program after exhaustively researching the history and geography of Nihonbashi.

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OriHime was developed by OryLab Inc., based in Chuo Ward. It has used robots as wait staff at the Dawn Ver. Beta cafe in Nihonbashi since 2021. Initially, the OriHime robots were primarily used indoors at restaurants and stores. The guided sightseeing package aims to broaden the product's potential. Mitsui Fudosan Co., also based in Chuo Ward and involved in development projects in Nihonbashi, is supporting the robot tour service. OryLab also aims to capitalise on English-speaking staff members at Dawn Ver. Beta, which can cater to tourists from outside Japan. OriHime pilots at the cafe daily handle a steady stream of inbound visitors speaking foreign languages.

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