Robot‑piloted bartenders to staff a limited‑run snack bar in Kyoto

# Kyoto is OrySNACK Kyoto is a limited‑time snack bar opening inside the soon‑to‑open Bookhome bookstore in Kyoto's Shijo Karasuma neighborhood. It will be staffed by OriHime avatar robots made by Tokyo‑based Ory Labs. The robots act as the visible presence behind the bar, but they are controlled remotely by human operators, called pilots.

# Why the robots are human‑piloted

# What the bar experience will be like Japanese snack bar model with avatar‑robot staffing. In Japan, a snack bar is a relaxed venue where light food is paired with drinks and social interaction with the bartender—often called "mama" or "master." Ory Labs says the project's purpose is to create interpersonal connections among visitors and between visitors and robot pilots.

# Project goals and long‑term hope Ory Labs frames OrySNACK as more than a novelty. Besides economic opportunity—the ability for housebound people to earn income—the company emphasizes social purpose. They hope that piloting avatar robots in hospitality settings can provide meaning, interaction, and, ultimately, the possibility for a pilot to remotely own and manage their own bar.

# Crowdfunding and opening timeline OrySNACK Kyoto ran a crowdfunding campaign on Japan's Campfire platform. At the time of reporting, the campaign had raised about 7.4 million yen, which was roughly 150 percent of its target, with three weeks remaining. The bar will open on December 4. Certain crowdfunding backers will be able to attend pre‑opening seatings starting November 19.

# Practical notes for visitors Visitors should expect a snack bar atmosphere where conversation with the robot bartender forms part of the experience. Because the robots are piloted remotely by people, interactions are human‑driven even though they occur through a physical robot. The venue is located in Kyoto's central Shijo Karasuma area, which draws a broad mix of domestic and international travelers—one reason Ory Labs chose Kyoto for this run.

# Why this matters The project applies avatar technology to hospitality while keeping the human operator at the center. It extends prior pilots of OriHime robots in cafes and fast food settings to bartending, an environment with closer customer interaction. The rollout tests both technological capabilities—the new OriHime‑D model—and a social model for remote work in public service roles.