A store for goldfish lovers

In Kingyozaka, the goldfish is king. This shop has specialised in breeding kingyo for 350 years. Over fifty species of goldfish are on display here and available to buy.

However if you’re looking for a more amusing way to take a goldfish home, it’s also possible to partake in the traditional game of kingyo-sukui, or goldfish fishing. Unmissable at Japanese festivals, it involves attempting to catch a goldfish with a paper net. Easier said than done! The cleverest of players get around it by using a cup to be sure to go home with their favourite kingyo and avoid destroying their nets.

With the prevalence of small apartments, goldfish is the perfect pet for the Japanese. However, soon these creatures will only be gold by name, as scientists have recently managed to create a transparent goldfish!