Variety
Black (sumi) base with white markings in a checkerboard-like interplay — the black should wrap the body and appear in the head and pectoral joints. The most popular of the Utsurimono family.
| Grade | Typical price (6–10″ unless noted) |
|---|---|
| Pond / garden quality | $60 – $1,030 |
| High grade / import | up to $2,000 |
| Show grade | $4,000+ |
Size, body conformation, and breeder line move prices more than variety alone — see the full koi price guide.
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.
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.
Laguna Beach, CA Ships nationwide $$ $$$ show
Laguna Koi Ponds is an Orange County koi retailer in Laguna Beach, California that has operated since 1982. The business maintains roughly 35,000 gallons of display ponds stocked with imported Japanese koi hand-selected from breeders including Koshiji, Ikarashi, Sakazume, and Otsuka, alongside pond design, filtration, and equipment services, with inventory ranging from a few hundred dollars to show-quality fish priced up to $30,000.
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.
Sunbury, OH Ships nationwide $$$ show
Ohio Koi is a Sunbury, Ohio dealer founded in 2016 that raises domestic koi across eight mud ponds and 24 indoor tanks while also stocking Japanese imports. Its online catalog lists premium varieties such as Shiro Utsuri, Showa, Kikokuryu, and Kujaku in the $1,200-$8,500 range, with the company noting hundreds more fish are available to view in person by appointment. It ships nationwide alongside a broader pond-supply and specialty-goldfish business.
Marietta, GA Local pickup only $$ $$$
Splendor Koi & Pond is a full-service koi and water-garden store in Marietta, Georgia, established in 2007, offering what it calls the largest koi selection in the Southeast alongside pond design, installation, and maintenance. Koi are sold in-store or by phone consultation rather than shipped, spanning varieties from Kohaku and Sanke to Kujaku and Goshiki.