Kohaku Koi for Sale

Quick answer: A Kohaku is a Japanese koi with a pure white body and a red pattern, and no other colors. It is the oldest and most popular of the Gosanke, the “Big Three” koi varieties. At Toyoma Koi, hand-selected Japanese Kohaku cost $1,800 to $4,800, and most sell for about $2,500.

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Kohaku (koh-HAH-koo) means “red and white” in Japanese. A Kohaku has a snow-white body, called the shiroji, with a red pattern on top, called hi. There is no black or any other color.

Kohaku were developed in Niigata, Japan, in the late 1800s and are considered the foundation of koi keeping. Japanese hobbyists have a saying: “It begins with Kohaku and ends with Kohaku.” Along with Taisho Sanke and Showa, the Kohaku is one of the Gosanke, the three varieties that win most major koi shows.

Every Kohaku pattern is unique, but most fall into a few well-known styles:

• Tancho: a single round red spot on the head and an all-white body.
• Nidan, Sandan and Yondan: two, three or four separate red patches along the back.
• Inazuma: one continuous red pattern that zigzags down the back like a lightning bolt.
• Straight hi: one unbroken band of red from head to tail.
• Maruten: a separate round red spot on the head, plus red on the body.
• Kuchibeni: red “lipstick” on the lips, a charming extra on some Kohaku.

You’ll also see Ginrin Kohaku, with sparkling, reflective scales, and Doitsu Kohaku, with few or no scales.

With only two colors, every flaw shows on a Kohaku. That’s what makes a great one so prized. Look for:

• Clean white skin. The white should be bright and snowy, with no yellow tint and no stray red or black spots.
• Deep, even red. The hi should be one consistent shade, not patchy or orange. Thick, solid hi tends to hold its color as the koi grows.
• Sharp pattern edges. A crisp edge where the red ends toward the tail (the kiwa) is a sign of quality.
• A good head pattern. Red on the head that stops before the eyes and nose is the classic look.
• Balance. The pattern should look balanced from left to right and from head to tail, ideally with a clean white break before the tail.
• Body. A full, even body shape signals good genetics and growth potential. Females grow larger and fuller, which is why most of our koi are female.

A Kohaku’s price depends mostly on its size, age and pattern quality. Here’s what our Japanese Kohaku have sold or been listed for (October 2026):

• 18″ to 23″ (2–3 years): $1,800 to $2,500, typically about $2,000
• 24″ to 26″ (3–4 years): $1,800 to $3,000, typically about $2,500
• 28″ (4 years): $4,000 to $4,800

Overall, our Kohaku range from $1,800 to $4,800, with a median price of $2,500. For prices across every variety, see our koi price guide.

All three Gosanke varieties have red and white. A Sanke adds small black (sumi) accents on its white body. A Showa has a black base with red and white over it, and black on the head. A Kohaku has no black at all, which makes it the simplest of the three, and the hardest to make perfect. See all the varieties in our guide to types of koi.

Toyoma Koi has imported koi from Japan since 1975. Every Kohaku we sell is hand-selected from Japanese breeders. You can buy a Kohaku at a fixed price or bid on one in our online koi auctions.

We ship within the continental United States and send you an exact shipping quote once your koi is packed and ready to travel. Local pickup in Tustin, California is always free. See how shipping works.