Arriving into Narita Airport, passport control done, luggage collected, customs cleared, our next mission was to navigate the public transport system. Seeing the queue to collect our Japan Rail Passes at the Airport, decision was made, get to Tokyo central and go from there. Good call! A lot of time saved. We do actually want to see some koi on this trip! From Tokyo we boarded the next bullet train to Nagaoka, Niigata. Tucking into some rice and a cold beef burger that was unusually nice, it was time to relax, much needed after the hustle and bustle of Tokyo train station.

Within touching distance, the Nishikigoi capital of the world !

A quick check in at the hotel, we dumped our bags and grabbed a taxi to Dainichi Koi Farm. Driving past various "greenhouses", we started to notice the blue bowls through the windows.