In May 2025, outdoor deliveries using the LOMBY autonomous delivery robot began in the Minami-Osawa area of Hachioji City in western Tokyo—one of the pilot areas for Smart City Tokyo, an initiative to unlock Tokyo’s potential through digital technology. Customers can now use the 7-Eleven delivery app 7NOW to order items from Minami-Osawa stores, and have them delivered directly to their homes. We spoke to Uchiyama Tomoharu, CEO of LOMBY Inc., the startup behind the robot’s development, to learn more about building new logistics models for the future.
The autonomous delivery robot LOMBY, which began operating in Minami-Osawa.
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This audio is generated by AI, so pronunciation and expressions may not be fully accurate. The narration is only in English.
Tackling Labor Shortages and Ensuring Access for People with Limited Access to Groceries
“The challenges we face in an aging society include labor shortages, and a growing number of those with limited access to groceries—those who find it difficult to go out and shop. LOMBY is a robot designed to help address these kinds of social issues.”
The Minami-Osawa area sits on hilly terrain, with many slopes that make getting around burdensome. It is also a city that was developed over 40 years ago, and where its residents have seen considerable aging.
LOMBY fulfills deliveries from the two 7-Eleven stores in the area directly to people’s homes, with customers able to use the app to order from roughly 3,000 items. The robot delivery service operates from 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with a delivery fee of 330 yen per order. And of course, they also deliver on rainy days.
“We want to contribute in the form of smart logistics infrastructure,” says Uchiyama.
Also Anticipation for Its Use as a Neighborhood Watch
The response from local residents has been overwhelmingly positive.
“It’s not just the elderly who have been happy about this—even the neighborhood kids seem to enjoy it. You can use the app to see where LOMBY is while it’s on the move, and apparently some people even go outside to wait for it before it gets to their homes. We’ve also heard some people saying it helps with preventing crime in the neighborhood. As it moves, it emits a voice alert saying ‘Robot operating,’ which helps promote caution in the nearby area.”
The comforting anime-style voice for the audio has also been well-received.
LOMBY has also passed for remotely-operated compact vehicles, meaning there are no problems with its safety. It travels at around 6 km/h and automatically recognizes traffic lights and pedestrian crossings. It navigates hills and steps smoothly, and when approached by a human being, it stops to ensure their safety.
Smart Technology Opens Up the Future of the Neighborhood
The catalyst for LOMBY’s operations in the Minami-Osawa area was the Minami-Osawa Smartcity Council.
“We’ve received a great deal of support from them so far, including them setting up opportunities for us to meet with local neighborhood associations and residents.”
The compartment opens when you hold the QR code displayed on the app over the scanner. Movie: LOMBY, Inc.
The Minami-Osawa Smartcity Council was established by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) in 2020, with the aim of creating a sustainable smart city by promoting research into advanced technologies and the utilization of ICT technologies in this area. The council works with Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji City, local companies, telecommunications businesses, and more, to implement initiatives to address social issues in the area.
Odagiri Daisuke, Director for Project Promotion at the Tama Area Urban Development Policy Division of the TMG’s Bureau of Urban Development, commented: “In March 2025, we formulated the new ‘Urban Development Strategies for the Tama Region.’ We hope to bring in more smart services like LOMBY throughout Tama New Town and work to further energize the neighborhood.” Uchiyama agreed, saying, “I think that bringing in more smart services will allow us to reconstruct this area.”
LOMBY travels with its lights on at night. Photo: courtesy of LOMBY, Inc.
Uchiyama also spoke about future developments.
“Challenges in the last mile of delivery—getting goods to the final recipient—are recognized around the world. Last year, when I visited Germany on a study tour, I found that many people there also saw it as an urgent issue. We want to build a solid track record here in Minami-Osawa, then move toward global expansion.”
Interview and writing by Imaizumi Aiko
Photos by Akiyoshi Yoko
Translation by Tanaka Seira
AloJapan.com