Ojiya, Niigata (新潟県小千谷市) – Nishikigoi no Sato (錦鯉の里) 2024 Nov. 29
We paid a visit to Nishikigoi no Sato (錦鯉の里) in Ojiya, Niigata Prefecture (新潟県小千谷市.) The city of Ojiya is the birthplace of Nishikigoi, and Nishikigoi no Sato is the only place in the world where a wide variety of live Nishikigoi are on display along with exhibits showing the history of Nishikigoi breeding.
Nishikigoi is the generic name for Carp that have beautiful colors and marking patterns. They are sorted out from the edible carps, called “Koi” in Japanese. The breeding of Carps into Nishikigoi began at the turn of the 19th century, and through selective breeding the original black Carps have evolved into Nishikigoi.
Nishikigoi are usually raised in mud ponds from spring to autumn, so their beautiful figures cannot be seen from a close distance during these seasons in breeding districts. In order to solve this problem, the city of Ojiya opened Nishikigoi no Sato in October, 1989, so that visitors can see genuine Nishikigoi, in their birthplace, swimming in clear water throughout the year.