Highway star: The Evolta robot strides by Mt. Fuji in this artist's rendition.

Panasonic's mascot robot Mr. Evolta is known for amazing stunts like climbing out of the Grand Canyon, but his latest feat will take him through the middle of Japan on a 300-mile march from Tokyo to Kyoto.

Mr. Evolta has appeared in various incarnations under the guiding hand of robot designer Tomotaka Takahashi. His current form is a small humanoid robot pulling an medieval-style daihachiguruma two-wheeled cart.

The 7-inch-tall, 2.2-pound humanoid walks in a rotating plastic cylinder like a hamster wheel, pulling his battery cart. He's remote-controlled and runs on 12 AA Evolta batteries, with a top speed of 2-3mph. He's expected to reach Kyoto on December 10, after 49 days on the road.

Hiroshige created this woodblock print of Hara along the Tokaido in the 1830s.

Mr. Evolta will be trekking along the legendary Tokaido high road, an ancient path linking Tokyo and Kyoto, the old capital. Traditionally traveled on foot, its once picturesque post stations as well as views of Mt. Fuji were celebrated for centuries by artists such as ukiyo-e master Utagawa Hiroshige.