At Narita Airport near Tokyo, a new concept retail store is changing the game — the souvenir outlet operates unmanned, staffed only by a cat-like robot acting as the attendant. The pilot store opened in Terminal 3’s domestic boarding zone and is part of a joint experiment between the airport and the Nomura Research Institute.
Travelers can browse and purchase merchandise via a digital kiosk, pay through contactless systems and receive the items — all without traditional human shop attendants on site. The experiment aims to help address labor-shortages and improve service efficiency in high-traffic airport environments.
While the initiative is currently limited in duration (running through December 15), it signals a broader shift toward automation in airport public services and retail spaces. If successful, we may see more airports worldwide adopt similar unmanned retail models.