In the business district of Tokyo’s Nihonbashi, groups of tourists are on guided tours of the area. But rather than being accompanied by a person, they’re being shown around by a shoulder-mounted robot.

If all goes well, these bilingual human-controlled robots, conversant in English and Japanese, could become a common sight in the capital.

Created by robotics company OryLab, OriHime is a white robot with green eyes, weighing 4 kilograms. Equipped with a camera, speaker and microphone, the robot twitches its wing-like arms, which it can fold together as if in prayer when visiting a temple. The robot is on a stand attached to a backpack that positions it to rest on the wearer’s shoulder, allowing the two to better talk to each other.

For OryLab, the main goal is not about offering robot tours in Japan, which began last week. The service is more about allowing people with disabilities an opportunity to work as tour guides from home, using the robots as their avatars.

The robots are operated remotely by people with disabilities, who can guide their gestures and conversations from afar, said Keiko Hamaguchi, public relations officer at OryLab.

“The robot is just the medium that allows for people with severe disabilities to become guides. Our guides are people who would not be able to guide you around themselves,” Hamaguchi said, noting that this offered a unique opportunity for guests to meet individuals they wouldn't otherwise have the chance to met.

“With us on your shoulders, you can feel and learn the history of Japan! Let's tour Nihonbashi where there are many hidden treasures to be found!” the company’s website states.

The company would not disclose the number of OriHime models but said there are currently seven trained guides.

For English tours including two or more guests, the tour is priced at ¥3,300 ($22) per person. One guest will cost ¥8,800. The event takes around 1.5 hours and is backed by Mitsui Fudosan, a prominent property developer. More than 60 tours were conducted during the trial period before it was officially launched on Sept. 11.

“The tour introduces the history and culture of the Nihonbashi area, with a particular focus on visiting the shrines located there. Not only that, it brings you along on a trip through the historical shops that have helped shape the identity of Nihonbashi,” Hamaguchi said.

OryLab was founded in 2012 by Kentaro Yoshifuji, who was unable to attend school for about 3½ years due to health issues. It proved to be a formative experience for Yoshifuji, who eventually joined Waseda University's robot research program with the aim of utilizing technology to help remove barriers for people who are feeling lonely in society, including those who are sick, injured or with disabilities, as well as social recluses called hikikomori.

The robot’s name, OriHime, is a play on the CEO’s nickname Ory, originating from his hobby of origami, and the company CFO’s nickname Hime.

“Our wish and hope for OriHime is that she will enable people to ... fight against the loneliness that is permeating our current world,” the company said on its website.

The company also operates a cafe in the Nihonbashi district where people remotely take orders and serve tables via the OriHime robots.