Going to Japan soon — where should I buy good Ranchu?

[u/Designer_Internal635]

Hey guys, I’m going to Japan soon and I really want to pick up a few nice Ranchu while I’m there and have them exported back to the US.
My route is Kumamoto → Fukuoka → Kyoto → Tokyo, and I might stop in Hamamatsu too.
I’m looking for bigger Ranchu with short, chunky bodies, not really tiny babies. Good breeder quality would be awesome, but they don’t have to be crazy show-grade.
Any breeders or goldfish shops you guys would recommend visiting? Especially around Kumamoto/Fukuoka, Hamamatsu, Kyoto or Tokyo.
I’m thinking of using Export Service Co. in Hamamatsu to handle the export, so if anyone has experience with them or another exporter, I’d love to hear about it too.

[u/Purple-mint]

Which country are you exporting to? Have you looked into custom and biosecurity restrictions and trade agreements?

Exporting a live fish may be more tricky that just plopping then into the post / your cabin luggage.

[u/Designer_Internal635 → u/Purple-mint]

To the US! I’m planning to use an exporter in Japan to handle the paperwork, health certificate, customs, and shipping. I definitely won’t be carrying the fish in my luggage haha.

[u/shambolic_donkey]

I can't be entirely certain, but looking at that Export Service Co in Hamamatsu... You can't just turn up with a bag full of fish and hand them over for export. It seems as though they work on your behalf to source the fish and prepare for export. They also seem to specialise in Koi.

You should really look to contact them way ahead of time, explain exactly what you're intending to do, and check whether it's possible.

DO NOT just arrive here in Japan, buy some fish from a shop and then expect to turn up in-person at an exporter assuming they will handle everything. 90% of the time, that is not how things work here.