In a video posted on 25/6, Argentinian social media user @manuenalemania, with over 46,000 followers, shared her check-in and check-out experience at the Henn na Hotel in Tokyo. The entire process was handled by robots. The post has garnered over 88,000 views.

Robot clerks greet guests at the hotel's check-in counter. Photo: Group.hennnahotel

Robot clerks greet guests at the hotel's check-in counter. Photo: Group.hennnahotel

Upon entering the lobby, the tourist encountered a row of humanoid robots dressed in uniforms and small, round hats, standing behind the reception desk. One robot turned to face her, causing her visible anxiety. "Don't look at me, don't look at me," she muttered before exclaiming, "You're scaring me."

At the counter, she scanned her passport, entered her stay dates, and received her key card from a machine. A robotic voice announced: "Your check-in is complete. We hope you have a wonderful stay at our hotel."

The video quickly sparked debate. One commenter remarked, "This is how a horror movie starts." Another offered a more positive perspective: "At least the robot doesn't have a bad attitude like a real person."

Henn na Hotel, which first opened in Nagasaki in 2015, now has over 20 branches across Japan, including Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, and has expanded to Seoul (South Korea) and New York (USA).

The Tokyo Bay branch of the hotel employs dinosaur robots at the check-in counter. Photo: Group.hennnahotel

The Tokyo Bay branch of the hotel employs dinosaur robots at the check-in counter. Photo: Group.hennnahotel

Some branches, such as the Henn na Hotel Maihama Tokyo Bay, feature dinosaur-themed robots. However, the technological experience isn't always smooth.

Reports indicate the hotel has reduced its robot staff by over 50% and rehired human employees to ensure service quality, due to robots frequently misunderstanding commands and being unable to handle customer complaints.

In China, where some hotels have also begun using robots for tasks like delivering food or providing basic assistance, the video also generated discussion.

"This is just the first step in AI completely replacing humans," one person commented.

"It looks convenient, but that dinosaur robot is a bit scary," another said.

While robots are becoming increasingly common in the service industry, the Argentinian tourist's experience highlights the gap between technology and human interaction. For some, a genuine smile from a receptionist still offers a more welcoming start to a vacation than the blank stare of a machine.

Tuan Anh (SCMP)