Yamatokoriyama Trip Overview
Yamato-Koriyama is located in the northern part of Nara Prefecture and flourished as a castle town since ancient times. Nowadays, it is a city rich in historic vibe and also known as one of the best producers of goldfish in Japan. Here we offer a walking tour which shows you the spots unique to Yamato-Koriyama including the symbolic Koriyama Castle, the”K Coffee” featuring an one-of-a-kind fish tank converted from a phone booth, a goldfish production facility “Kingyoda”, and the Goldfish Museum.
Additional Info
Duration: 3 hours
Starts: Yamatokoriyama, Japan
Trip Category: Day Trips & Excursions >> Day Trips
Explore Yamatokoriyama Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Yamatokoriyama, Nara, Japan
Yamato-Koriyama is located in the northern part of Nara Prefecture and flourished as a castle town since ancient times. Nowadays, it is a city rich in historic vibe and also known as one of the best producers of goldfish in Japan. Here we offer a walking tour which shows you the spots unique to Yamato-Koriyama including the symbolic Koriyama Castle, the”K Coffee” featuring an one-of-a-kind fish tank converted from a phone booth, a goldfish production facility “Kingyoda”, and the Goldfish Museum.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Koriyama Castle, Jonaicho, Yamatokoriyama 639-1011 Nara Prefecture
We will first visit Koriyama Castle, the pride and symbol of the city. The castle was built in the 16th century, and is known as one of the most famous cherry blossoms viewing spots in Japan. Depending on the season, here you can enjoy cherry blossoms (spring) or vivid fall colors (autumn). Koriyama Castle will wow you not only in terms of the stunning stone walls and architecture, but also in terms of the spot’s glorious harmony with nature, as well as its splendid exterior gate that was relocated from Negoriji in Wakayama. And let’s not forget – a breathtaking view from the top that overlooks the town of Yamato-Koriyama.
Duration: 40 minutes
Stop At: Hakomotokan Konya, 19-1 Konyamachi, Yamatokoriyama 639-1148 Nara Prefecture
Pay a visit to this restored indigo dyer’s house. Inside you’ll find a small museum of art and antiques related to the city’s heritage of goldfish breeding. You can also buy hand-dyed accessories should they take your fancy.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Koriyamahachiman Shrine, 4-25 Yanagi, Yamatokoriyama 639-1134 Nara Prefecture
Just off the shopping street lies this Shinto shrine. Funnily enough, this shrine is popular with baseball fans all over Japan. When one local man donated baseball mitts for the shrine to give to the disadvantaged, it started somewhat of a trend, and more locals joined in. Eventually some famous pro-baseball players contributed, and now people visit to pray for good results in their games.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Koriyama Goldfish Museum, 107 Nikicho, Yamatokoriyama 639-1021 Nara Prefecture
At our final stop on the tour, we explore the goldfish production center known as “Kingyoda,” just outside the center of the city. Yamato-Koriyama hosts one of Japan’s leading goldfish production sites, distributing approximately 60 million goldfish nationwide, or about 40% of the national share. Here on the outskirts of the city, the Kingyoda facility maintains about 50 hectares of goldfish culturing ponds, and the visuals of seeing such great numbers of goldfish swimming about in such a large area is something unforgettable. You’ll also visit “Koriyama goldfish museum” where you will find goldfish-related memorabilia and reproductions of Edo-era prints, along with a garden area with tanks of rare goldfish.
Duration: 25 minutes
