Ojiya — Koi Carp Capital
The birthplace of Nishikigoi (ornamental koi carp) — the living jewels that now sell for millions of dollars at international auctions. The koi mutation was first bred here in 1820 from rice paddy carp. The Nishikigoi no Sato museum has 1,000 prize-winning koi in display ponds, and surrounding farms let visitors view breeding stock.
1.5–2 hours
Museum ¥550 (from Apr 2026), ¥520 until then
Nishikigoi no Sato (Koi museum): 9:00–17:00 (9:00–17:00 Dec–Feb); closed New Year only; koi farms viewable from roads.
Year-round
Ojiya Station on Joetsu Line (from Nagaoka, 15 min)
Location
Why Visit
- 1
Nishikigoi were first bred here in 1820 — every ornamental koi worldwide traces its ancestry to Ojiya
- 2
Nishikigoi no Sato: 1,000 champion koi in display pools — fish worth ¥1–100 million each
- 3
The koi auctions at October Ojiya festival draw buyers from 50 countries
Local Tips
Ojiya is the birthplace of Nishikigoi (ornamental koi carp) — the colourful varieties developed here in the 19th century. The museum explains 200 years of selective breeding. The Ojiya Konjakikan Koi Farm allows close viewing and feeding of championship-grade koi. Local sake and snow-country cuisine (snow-aged food, Uonuma rice) are also outstanding.
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