Mitch
To go to Japan and expect to "buy fish", here's what you need
1) THE MOST IMPORTANT THING - a broker/shipper - If you don't have a shipper, none of the breeders will even talk to you. That's because not every breeder is a shipper. There are very few that are. If you have an agent, he can make the appointments with the breeders you wish to see prior to your arrival, and will handle your shipping for you. Here's the name of one agent: go to
www.koi-breeders.jp/, click on the top banner "sales info" then select koi hunting guide. He basically spells it all out for you as to what you can expect to pay on top of the price that you and the breeder agree upon for the fish. The prices he quotes are pretty typical of what the brokers there charge for their services. Of course, don't forget - airfare, train tickets, car rental(?) hotel and food. The hotel is not that much if you stay in Ojiya City or Nagaoka. Ojiya City is much closer to Niigata breeders than Nagaoka. Food is actually much more reasonable than people think. You can eat on $25/day or less, depending upon your appetite.LOL