Variety
Also called: ginrin, diamond scale koi
A scale trait, not a color: sparkling diamond-like scales that glitter gold over red areas and silver over white. Applied across varieties — Gin Rin Kohaku, Gin Rin Chagoi, and Gin Rin Showa are all common.
| Grade | Typical price (6–10″ unless noted) |
|---|---|
| Pond / garden quality | $50 – $775 |
| High grade / import | up to $1,500 |
| Show grade | $3,500+ |
Price follows the underlying variety; the sparkle adds a premium.
Size, body conformation, and breeder line move prices more than variety alone — see the full koi price guide.
Eustis, FL Ships nationwide $ $$
Blackwater Creek Koi Farms is a working American koi farm in Eustis, Florida that breeds its own fish from broodstock originally imported from Japan, sold online as US-raised koi and goldfish. It operates two bio-secure farm sites, sells nationwide, and allows appointment-only farm visits where buyers can hand-select fish.
San Jose, CA Ships nationwide $$ $$$ show
ChampKoi (Champion Nishikigoi) is a San Jose, California online koi dealer founded in 1998 by hobbyist-turned-importer Tom Lai. It sells premium Japanese koi hand-selected directly from named Niigata- and Hiroshima-area breeder farms, ships nationwide overnight, and publishes individual breeder profiles so buyers can see which farm produced each fish before purchase.
La Center, WA Ships nationwide $$ $$$ show
Children of the Sun Koi, doing business as Cots Koi, is a Washington State importer founded in 2004 that sources exclusively from named Japanese breeders including Dainichi, Ikarashi, Maruyama, Izumiya, and Torazo Koi Farms rather than breeding its own stock. It carries Gosanke varieties, Shiro Utsuri, and Ginrin koi across a wide price range, with a live-arrival guarantee that applies to air-cargo shipments but not to UPS shipments. It is included in this Northeast/Midwest research batch even though it is West Coast-based, per the assigned task scope. Note: it competes in the same national import-focused segment as some larger East and West Coast dealers.
San Jose, CA Ships nationwide $$ $$$ show
Genki Koi is a San Jose, California koi importer founded in 1997, run by owner Kevin who travels to Japan several times a year to hand-select fish from more than 50 Niigata and Hiroshima breeders including Dainichi and Isa. It sells a broad range of traditional and metallic varieties online with nationwide shipping.
Mesa, AZ Ships nationwide $$ $$$
Hakuna Matata Koi is a family-run koi dealer in Mesa, Arizona founded by Melissa and Mike Watkins, who grew the business from garage tubs into a storefront and obtained a direct import license from Japan. Its main supplier relationship is with Nagoshi Koi Farm in Toyama Prefecture, and it ships imported and domestic koi to hobbyists nationwide from its Mesa location.
Amana, IA Ships nationwide $ $$
Kloubec Koi Farm is a family-owned Iowa hatchery, started in 1981 and focused on koi since the early 1990s, that breeds all of its own stock from Japanese-blooded parent fish on 80 acres of ponds rather than importing live koi. It ships nationwide with a live-delivery and USDA health-certification guarantee, and also allows Saturday, appointment-only farm visits during the season.
Mililani, HI Ships nationwide $$ $$$ show
Kodama Koi Farm has been farming koi in Mililani, Hawaii since 1969 and operates as both a breeder and a major importer, running weekly online auctions of fish sourced directly from top Niigata breeders such as Dainichi, Isa, and Marudo. It ships nationwide by air cargo from Hawaii and runs an additional retail location, Kodama Koi Garden, in New York.
Upland, CA Ships nationwide $ $$ $$$
Mystic Koi & Water Gardens is a family-owned shop in Upland, California that has operated since 1996 as, by its own description, the largest Southern California specialty retailer of imported Japanese koi and water-gardening supplies. The three-quarter-acre property carries an unusually wide range of named varieties sourced from Japanese breeders including Sekiguchi, Omosako, and Sakai Fish Farm, alongside plants, filtration, and pond-care products.
Rocklin, CA Ships to 49 states $$ $$$
Sacramento Koi is a family-owned importer of Japanese koi based in Rocklin, California, operating since 2000. It sells hand-selected imported koi online and through a storefront, runs new arrivals through an extended in-house quarantine before sale, and also manufactures its own U.S.-made pond filtration equipment under the Sacramento Koi / Advantage brand.