About
Tucked behind Foster Road off I-205 in Portland, Rising Sun Koi is the kind of place you have to know about to find — and once you do, you won't go anywhere else for pond fish. The entrance is around back, the storefront is admittedly rough around the edges, and there's no glossy showroom to speak of. But what you'll find inside is a passionate, deeply knowledgeable owner who has been running this one-man operation for years and who treats his koi with a level of care that shows up immediately in the health and beauty of his fish.
Rising Sun specializes in authentic Japanese koi — not the domestic breeds you'll find at big-box stores. The selection ranges from two-inch juveniles to striking sixteen-inch specimens, including harder-to-find varieties like blue koi. Multiple customers report that fish purchased here dramatically outperform koi bought elsewhere in terms of growth, behavior, and color.
One reviewer noted the difference was "night and day" and now refuses to buy pond fish from any other source. Beyond the fish, the shop stocks pond equipment, replacement parts (including Laguna brand), pumps, aerators, and floating pond plants like water hyacinths and water lettuce at prices well below competitors. The owner's real value, though, is his expertise.
He'll spend serious time helping you design and build a koi pond from scratch — drawing schematics, discussing measurements, and steering you away from unnecessary purchases. One customer came in with only a vague idea for a pump setup and left with a complete plan and all necessary materials. Another credits a single phone call with saving their koi pond.
The store won't win any awards for curb appeal, and communication can occasionally be a challenge, but the owner's willingness to problem-solve is legendary — he once Frankensteined spare parts together to fix a customer's pond filter connector on the spot. For Portland-area pond keepers who care more about healthy, beautiful koi and honest guidance than fancy retail packaging, Rising Sun Koi is the real deal.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- ConsultationPond Services
- Specializes in
- Pond
Highlights
What makes them special
- Specializes in authentic Japanese koi, including rare blue koi varieties
- Fish range from 2-inch juveniles to 16-inch show-quality specimens
- Owner provides in-depth pond design and construction consultation
- Floating pond plants like water hyacinths and water lettuce at competitive prices
- Stocks pond pumps, aerators, filters, and Laguna brand replacement parts
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Owner was so helpful and kind. Solved my problem locating the correct float for a client’s water feature. Her float just disappeared?! System is back up and running beautifully! Thank you! (Parking and entrance is in the back on Reedway)”
— Hans & Betsy Harper5.06 months ago“Bought two healthy koi here & and an aerator. Owner is very helpful and has loads of parts, pumps, knowledge, and know how. If you need something for your pond he can probably help. He’ll help you make wise spending decisions too - we had a sick fish and were looking for a sock net to transfer the koi. He talked us out of it to save us money and just use a thick plastic bag. We also could throw the bag away without risking getting another fish sick.”
— Craig Boline5.07 months ago“The only place that carry blue koi. Got healthy water hyacinths at half the price elsewhere. Got a couple of beautiful koi at very reasonable price. Friendly owner gave great advice of how to care for koi which is very much appreciated. Will buy from again.”
— Viet Mai5.0Edited 8 months ago“Our fish from Rising Sun Koi are happy in our pond! Very healthy to!”
— Mike Helme5.08 months ago“The person (assuming he was the owner) was super helpful. He didn’t have a part we needed for a hose connector for our pond filter, but he Frankensteined some parts together and it worked like a charm. Fantastic store, and we will be back. Thank you!”
— Robert Komets5.0a year ago“Beautiful and healthy Japanese Koi. It is our new “go to” location for quality koi, and at a reasonable price.”
— Howard Hamilton5.0a year ago“Very Helpful. Got 3 beautiful fish that are doing great! Also got some water lettuce that look great in my ponds.”
— victoria meister5.0a year ago“Good koi selections & healthy”
— Minh Nguyen5.0a year ago“It was a great experience! The man was super nice, and knows his stuff. You can tell he really cares and loves for the Koi fish. I will definitely come back to buy some more fish.”
— Lekana Ouk5.0a year ago“He knows his tuff and worked extra hard to help me find a solution to my pond filter problem.”
— Thomas S5.0a year ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (503) 777-4888 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Rising Sun Koi.