KYOTO -- Major travel agency JTB Corp. and Kyoto-based taxi firm MK Co. have teamed up to offer "Kyo no Robo Tabi Taxi," a tour of renowned Kyoto sightseeing spots that features Robohon, a robot-shaped mobile phone from Sharp Corp.
JTB and MK are promoting the service as a new way for visiting foreign nationals to enjoy the ancient capital. The service was launched on Sept. 22, and is available in English and Chinese as well as Japanese.
Kyo no Robo Tabi Taxi departs from JR Kyoto Station and stops at a number of sightseeing spots citywide -- including Kiyomizu-dera temple in Higashiyama Ward and Nanzenji temple in Sakyo Ward -- over about six hours.
Equipped with such features as artificial intelligence and GPS, Robohon provides information such as "The Niomon gate at Kiyomizudera has been designated as an important cultural asset. The statues of the guardian gods on the right and left sides are massive and amazing, aren't they?"
Its actions also include saying phrases such as "Let's take a picture together" at Instagram-worthy spots. In addition, it gives users information such as "In the Kyoto dialect, the word for 'arigato' [thank you] is 'ookini.'"
"We want to increase the number of repeat visitors to Kyoto through entertaining trips with the robot," a public relations staffer at MK said.
Kyo no Robo Tabi Taxi costs from 6,000 yen to 7,000 yen per person. Participants share a taxi, with a minimum of six people per tour. The service is available through March 31, 2019.
Call MK at (075) 662-1700 for more information.
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