Champion Nishikigoi

Champion Nishikigoi in San Jose has built a devoted following over nearly two decades as one of California's premier Japanese koi importers. The operation, run by Tom, Paul, and their team — including the frequently praised Noy — specializes in koi imported directly from Japan, offering varieties like Mizuho Ogon, Tancho Beni Ginga, Showa, Asagi, and Chagoi across a wide range of sizes and price points, from accessible selections to show-quality specimens in the thousands. The physical location is clean, well-organized, and expansive, with massive ponds housing some of the largest koi you'll encounter in the Bay Area.

Beyond the fish themselves, Champion stocks pond equipment including pumps, parts, and high-quality koi food — essentially everything needed to build and maintain a serious koi pond. Staff are consistently described as patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about koi health and care, readily answering questions about treatments and pond management. What truly sets Champion apart is their shipping operation.

Customers from Connecticut to Michigan to the Southeast rave about careful packaging, overnight delivery, and fish arriving vibrant and healthy with a near-perfect survival rate. One longtime customer with a 22,000-gallon pond and 60 koi reports zero disease or damage issues across five years of purchases. The team even brings fish to koi shows — like the Louisville event — for convenient pickup.

Champion practices proper quarantine protocols before releasing fish to customers, a detail that serious koi keepers deeply appreciate. Their online ordering process is straightforward, with fish matching their photos and often arriving larger than advertised. Families have been visiting since 2009, passing their love of koi keeping to new generations.

Customers drive from San Francisco, Vallejo, and well beyond, consistently bypassing closer shops because the quality, pricing, and service at Champion simply can't be matched. For pond enthusiasts across the country, this San Jose farm has become the trusted source for authentic Japanese koi.