Located in northern Nara Prefecture, Yamatokoriyama City is widely known throughout Japan as the “City of Goldfish.” It is considered one of Japan’s three major goldfish-producing centers, alongside Yatomi City in Aichi Prefecture and Tokyo’s Edogawa area. Here, the history of a castle town dating back to the Sengoku period (1467–1615) blends with a goldfish-breeding tradition that developed from the Edo period (1603–1868) onward. Today, goldfish remain an integral part of the city’s identity, visible in its streets, shops, and local attractions.
Numerous breeding ponds still dot the city, preserving a tradition that began nearly three centuries ago. Goldfish farming has become closely connected with modern community development and tourism, creating a distinctive atmosphere where historical streetscapes and the graceful movements of ornamental fish come together.
Approximately 60% of the goldfish produced in Yamatokoriyama are wakin, a hardy variety commonly used for goldfish scooping at Japanese festivals and events. Since 1995, the city has hosted the National Goldfish Scooping Championship every year. Goldfish here are more than ornamental pets or an important local industry: they are a symbol of the community. From fish swimming in stone-lined waterways to goldfish-themed decorations and major competitions, the city offers visitors many experiences unique to Yamatokoriyama.
The history of goldfish farming in Yamatokoriyama is traditionally traced to 1724. In that year, Yanagisawa Yoshisato arrived from Kai Province, in what is now Yamanashi Prefecture, to become lord of Koriyama Domain. He is said to have brought goldfish with him through his retainers. One retainer, Bunbei Yokota, reportedly succeeded in breeding the fish locally, and the techniques gradually spread among other samurai as a source of supplementary income.
By the final years of the Edo period, the domain’s finances had become increasingly strained, and goldfish farming provided an important source of income for its samurai. Following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, former retainers who lost their stipends and local farming families also turned to goldfish breeding to support their livelihoods. The practice gradually spread throughout the region.
The local environment helped the industry flourish. The area has numerous irrigation ponds, good-quality water, and abundant water fleas that serve as food for young fish. These favorable natural conditions helped establish Koriyama as one of Japan’s leading goldfish-producing areas.
The historic town developed around Koriyama Castle, which was built under the leadership of Toyotomi Hidenaga, the younger brother of the powerful warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi. During the Edo period, the Yanagisawa clan governed the domain, and the town prospered under its administration.
Narrow lanes and traditional townhouses still preserve much of the atmosphere of the former castle town. Goldfish farming developed alongside this historic community, creating the distinctive identity of Yamatokoriyama as a place where castles and goldfish belong together.
During the Meiji era (1868–1912), Haruchika Komatsu played an important role in promoting Yamatokoriyama’s goldfish industry throughout Japan and overseas. Through improvements in breeding methods, the development of distribution networks, and participation in exhibitions, he helped establish the reputation of Koriyama goldfish.
Modern approaches to the business also contributed to its growth. Breeding ponds were developed using the outer moat of Koriyama Castle, and railway transport made it easier to ship live fish to distant markets. These innovations laid the foundations for the industry’s later expansion.
During the Pacific War, many goldfish ponds were converted into rice fields to increase food production, and the industry suffered a serious decline. Recovery began after the war, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s. As goldfish scooping became increasingly popular during Japan’s period of rapid economic growth, demand rose sharply.
Improvements in transportation, including railway shipping and the development of oxygen-filled plastic bags, made it possible to deliver live fish more efficiently. In 1973, annual production reached approximately 100 million goldfish, accounting for around 60% of Japan’s total. This period marked a golden age for Yamatokoriyama, which became renowned as Japan’s leading goldfish town.
Visitors can explore the city’s goldfish heritage at attractions such as goldfish museums, goldfish-themed book collections, and specialty shops selling goldfish-related goods. Near JR Koriyama Station, the attraction known as Kingyo no Eki, or “Goldfish Station,” welcomes visitors with a large aquarium. It makes a fun stop before or after exploring the historic castle-town district.
Yanagimachi Shopping Street, in the city center, is affectionately known as “Goldfish Street.” Around 30 participating businesses help create a nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of the Showa era (1926–1989), displaying more than 30 varieties of goldfish in individual tanks.
The displays are as imaginative as the fish themselves. Some aquariums resemble vending machines or traditional lanterns, while another uses a former video telephone booth as a fish tank. These creative installations turn an ordinary shopping street into an unusual open-air showcase of local goldfish culture.
One enjoyable way to explore the shopping street is to use an Okingyocho, a goldfish-themed booklet inspired by the stamp books used at Japanese shrines and temples. Visitors can travel from shop to shop collecting goldfish stamps while discovering the different displays.
The experience appeals to both tourists and local residents. Goldfish fortune slips and capsule-toy machines add playful touches, making the street an engaging destination for families and anyone who enjoys discovering the character of a town on foot.
Goldfish appreciation is an important part of local culture, and goldfish shows are held in spring, including events at Yanagisawa Shrine. Carefully raised fish are brought together for judging, with their beauty, coloration, body shape, and quality assessed by enthusiasts and specialists. These gatherings are important occasions for people who are passionate about ornamental fish.
Held every August, the National Goldfish Scooping Championship is one of Yamatokoriyama’s best-known summer events. Participants travel from across Japan to compete in the lively challenge of scooping as many goldfish as possible within three minutes.
The competition brings together children and adults in a festive atmosphere and celebrates an activity familiar from Japanese summer festivals. For visitors, it is a memorable way to experience the city’s identity as the home of goldfish.
The history of goldfish is generally traced back more than 1,600 years to mutations among crucian carp in southern China. Individuals with unusual red coloration were prized, and selective breeding over generations produced an increasingly wide range of varieties.
Goldfish breeding developed during the Song dynasty, and keeping goldfish became more widespread among ordinary people during the Ming dynasty. Over time, these ornamental fish became an important part of Chinese cultural traditions.
Goldfish are generally believed to have arrived in Japan from China through the port of Sakai around 1502. Initially, they were luxury pets enjoyed mainly by aristocrats and powerful feudal lords. From the middle of the Edo period onward, goldfish keeping spread among ordinary households, helped in part by the availability of glass fishbowls.
Goldfish gradually became part of everyday Japanese life, particularly at seasonal festivals and in traditional home gardens. Yamatokoriyama’s breeding tradition is one of the most prominent examples of how this cultural practice developed into a major local industry.
The annual breeding cycle generally begins in spring, when adult fish lay their eggs on aquatic spawning plants or other suitable materials. The eggs hatch within several days, and the young fish are raised on water fleas and prepared feed.
Successful goldfish farming requires considerable experience, particularly in maintaining water quality and selecting fish as they grow. For more valuable varieties, careful selection based on body shape, coloration, and overall appearance is especially important. These skills have been passed down through generations of breeders.
One of the most important aspects of goldfish farming in Koriyama is the preparation and management of the water. Breeders often maintain green water, a condition created by the growth of microscopic algae and other phytoplankton. This environment supports the pond ecosystem and can help provide suitable conditions for the fish, while the green color may also make them less visible to predators.
This approach reflects a long tradition of working with natural conditions rather than relying solely on artificial methods. The careful management of water and the surrounding environment remains an important part of Yamatokoriyama’s goldfish-breeding expertise.
Like many traditional industries in Japan, goldfish farming faces challenges, including an aging workforce and a shortage of successors. At the same time, Yamatokoriyama City continues to promote community development and tourism centered on its goldfish heritage.
By linking the city’s history, culture, and local industry under the identity of a “castle town where goldfish swim,” these initiatives aim to preserve traditional skills while creating new reasons for visitors to explore the area.
The goldfish of Yamatokoriyama are much more than a local specialty. They are closely connected to the history of the castle town, the livelihoods of its residents, and centuries of traditional craftsmanship. As you walk through the historic streets, look for goldfish in shop windows, creative aquariums, and displays that bring this heritage into everyday life.
With its blend of historic scenery, distinctive local culture, and graceful goldfish, Yamatokoriyama offers visitors an experience that is both charming and uniquely Japanese. Each visit reveals another part of the story behind this remarkable goldfish town.