Private day trip · Day trip from Tokyo
From Tokyo: Ojiya Koi Village Customizable Tour
Visit Ojiya and Yamakoshi in Niigata, where colorful nishikigoi koi were first bred, with terraced hills, koi ponds and Ojiya chijimi weaving.
Private · your group only◆11 hours◆Up to 6 guests◆Pickup included
Road-day snapshot
This is your private tour, so the route is flexible: tell us if you want to skip a stop, stay longer somewhere or add a place nearby.
The experience
A private journey, thoughtfully paced
Nishikigoi, the colorful koi now kept in gardens around the world, were first bred in the hill villages of Ojiya and Yamakoshi in Niigata about 200 years ago. Farmers kept carp in small ponds between their rice terraces, and over many years they bred fish with red, white and black patterns. Today this is still the heartland of koi breeding.
We pick you up at your hotel in central Tokyo and drive north, about 3 hours, through the mountains to Niigata. Our first stop is Nishikigoi no Sato in Ojiya. This koi culture center explains the history of koi breeding, and its Japanese garden has a pond with prize-quality koi you can view from the bank. Entry is included.
Next we drive up into the Yamakoshi hills. Here rice terraces and koi ponds step down the slopes. You see how breeders still use these ponds in the warm months. The area was badly hit by the 2004 Chuetsu earthquake, and the villages have been rebuilt with great care. Your guide shares this story with respect. We stop at a koi farm shop where you can see the fish in their tanks and learn how they are graded.
In the afternoon we return to Ojiya to visit a weaving center for Ojiya chijimi, a fine ramie cloth that is listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. You see the looms and fabrics.
We drive back to your hotel in Tokyo in the evening. The tour is about 11 hours in total.
This is a private tour. Only your group. One group per van, for 1 to 6 people.
If Nishikigoi no Sato is closed on your date, you can take a full refund of your booking, guaranteed.
Choose with confidence
Is this the right journey for your group?
Excellent fit if
- Learn how nishikigoi koi were first bred in these hills
- View prize koi in the garden pond at Nishikigoi no Sato
- See rice terraces and koi ponds in the Yamakoshi hills
- See how koi are graded at a local koi farm shop
- See looms and fabrics of UNESCO-listed Ojiya chijimi
Said plainly
This is a viewing tour. There is no feeding or touching of the fish If Nishikigoi no Sato is closed or cancelled on your date, you can take a full refund of your booking, guaranteed. If you prefer, we can instead visit a second koi farm shop in Ojiya and spend more time in the Yamakoshi hills Koi ponds in the hills are used from about May to October. In winter the fish are kept in indoor tanks and the hills may be snowy The Yamakoshi area suffered in the 2004 earthquake. Please be respectful when we talk about it
Your day
Suggested itinerary
Times are approximate. Your driver-guide adjusts the order for traffic, weather, opening hours and the best light.
Learn how nishikigoi koi were first bred in these hills
View prize koi in the garden pond at Nishikigoi no Sato
See rice terraces and koi ponds in the Yamakoshi hills
See how koi are graded at a local koi farm shop
See looms and fabrics of UNESCO-listed Ojiya chijimi
What is covered
What you see is what you pay
Ours — included
- Private van and English-speaking driver-guide (also Hindi/Urdu)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Tokyo
- All parking, fuel and road tolls
- Nishikigoi no Sato entry
- Ojiya chijimi weaving center entry
Yours — paid on the day
- Meals and drinks unless listed as included
- Gratuities, which are never expected in Japan
- Optional purchase of koi or koi goods
- Optional souvenir purchases
Good to know
Before you book
Languages
English, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi
Pickup
Pickup and drop-off at your Tokyo hotel or accommodation (23 wards).
Group and vehicle
Private for up to 6 guests. Enter adults, children, infants and child seats separately at booking.
Dietary and mobility needs
Halal, vegetarian, allergy, walking or other practical requests go in your booking notes and are planned before the day.
Questions
Frequently asked
Can we change the route on the day?
Yes. It is a private tour in our own van, so your driver-guide can skip, extend or add stops where time allows.
Is the price per person?
No. The price is for your whole private group of up to 6 people, including the van, fuel, tolls, parking and your driver-guide.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for an automatic full refund to the original payment method. Within 24 hours, contact us directly so we can help. If a typhoon or official weather warning stops the trip, we offer a new date or a full refund. For a GetYourGuide booking, the terms shown on that booking apply.
Somewhere else in mind?
Any destination in Japan
If this route is not exactly what you need, tell us the destination, dates and group. We confirm the plan and the exact price before any payment is taken.
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From¥94,000
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