I was in Japan for several weeks a few months ago and I went to the Subaru factory in Ota, Gumma prefecture for a visit. I found out from Subaru's Japanese website that they gave individual tours on weekends by appointment. So I faxed my information to the visitor's center and they mailed an invitation card back to me. I needed this card to get past the security guards at the gate.

When I arrived in Ota by train, I walked 30 minutes to the factory. Once I got there, I was greeted by the tour guide who could speak English. This was a surprise since I was expecting to get the tour in Japanese. The guide led me on a tour of factory where the Trim and Final Assembly and Final Test for the Legacy.

We walked on catwalks above the assembly area. I saw partially assembled car bodies moving around suspended from an overhead conveyor belt like clothes at a dry cleaning shop. The wheels and tires arrived at the assembly point by another conveyor track from the ceiling and each wheel took less than 10 secs to install. Larger parts such as transmissions arrived on mobile carts that would raise or lower the parts to just the right height for installation.

At the final test station, the technicians drove the cars onto rollers and a computer ramped up the car's speed up to 100 km/h (60mph). If there was some kind of imbalance, the car would sway left and right on the rollers. They would also check emissions at this point too. Afterwards the cars are given a final inspection and then driven on a test track for several laps.

I couldn't take any pictures inside the factory, so I just took some photos in their museum employee parking lot and around the town.

Museum Photos:
Subaru 360, Sambar van, concept car, 3.3L H6 from SVX, Impreza cross section
Parking Lots:
2 photos from employee lot
photo of several subarus at toys r'us
older WRX wagon

I didn't get to see the new Imprezas while I was there because they weren't officially unveiled at that time. Anyways it was a good trip. If people are really interested, I can scan the tour pamplet into a pdf file.

 

wow nice pics i love that open pic of the H6

 

I also have video files of a cutaway boxer engine and rear diff in motion. I'll put it up on youtube or some other site later.

 

wow, that's so cool!

 

great pics! Thanks for sharing. Looked like a lot of fun.

 

Sounds like it was a great time. Cool pics!

 

Thank you...great photos.

 

Nice first post bumping a 6 year old thread............................................

 

Well they are cool photos.

 

the white gc8 sti wagon... with jdm window visors... Me drool

yeah just realized how old this thread is though