Travel video guide
Where to Eat in Chuo City: Smoked Firefly Squid (Hotaru-ika)
This guide turns Why a Sushi Master Left One of Japan's Best Sushi Restaurants to Open in NYC — Omakase from Eater into a practical restaurant map with 2 saved spots around Chuo City and New York. The mapped places include a restaurant stop. Use it to understand the places, dishes, and trip context before saving the map in Varedelo.
What the creator captured
Eater features a sushi chef in New York who blends traditional Japanese techniques with modern influences, such as an angel hair pasta dish made with horsehair crab. The chef emphasizes the importance of preserving labor-intensive traditions like making shrimp oboro and vinegaring baby sea bream to pass down to the next generation. He reflects on his difficult decade of training, concluding that his past struggles were essential for his current mastery and success.
What this map is good for
- Planning a japanese restaurant stop or short itinerary in Chuo City.
- Comparing food stops from a creator or saved local map before you commit time in the city.
- Saving 2 mapped spots into Varedelo so the list stays usable on the ground.
- Using the original video as context, then turning it into a clean place-by-place map.
Featured spots on this map
- Sushi Ginza Onodera Souhonten
Sushi Restaurant in Japan, 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 5 Chome−14−14 サンリット銀座ビルⅢ B1F・2F, Chuo City, Ginza, 5 Chome−14−14 サンリット銀座ビルⅢ B1F・2F - icca
Japanese Restaurant in 20 Warren St, New York, NY 10007, USA, New York, NY, United States
Food notes from the video
- Horsehair crab (Kegani) cold pasta
- Steamed abalone (Awabi) with liver sauce
- Smoked firefly squid (Hotaru-ika)
- Vinegared baby sea bream (Kasugo-dai)
- Shrimp oboro (sweet shrimp crumble)
Experiences captured
- Prepared traditional sushi techniques in New York
- Collaborated with an Italian chef for fusion dishes
- Cleaned and steamed large Nagasaki abalone
- Smoked firefly squid using cherry wood chips
- Hand-filleted baby sea bream using traditional methods
- Made traditional shrimp oboro from scratch
- Reflected on ten years of rigorous sushi training
- Taught sushi techniques to a diverse kitchen staff
Planning notes for Chuo City
Yaesu is a district in Chuo City, Tokyo, situated on the eastern side of Tokyo Station. As of 2026, the area is defined by a combination of Edo-period historical foundations and contemporary urban redevelopment. Historical Heritage The district's name is a phonetic derivation of "Yayosu," the Japanese name for Jan Joosten van Lodensteyn, a Dutch navigator who arrived in Japan in 1600 aboard the ship *De Liefde*. Following his arrival, the Tokugawa shogunate granted him a residence in this area.
Must-try foods nearby
- Golden Sesame Vegan Ramen
A 2026 staple at T's TanTan in Tokyo Station (Yaesu South). This iconic plant-based ramen uses a rich, creamy broth made from ground golden sesame and soy milk. - Halal-Certified Gyudon Bento
Available at specialized kiosks like 'Ekiben-ya Matsuri' near the Yaesu gates. - Zeitaku Don (Luxury Seafood Mound)
A signature dish from the trending Nihonbashi/Yaesu hotspot Tsujihan. This 'Zeitaku Don' features a towering mound of fresh sashimi, including tuna, shrimp, and shellfish. - Premium Musk Melon Parfait
Found at the legendary Nihonbashi Sembikiya near Yaesu, this luxury dessert features Japan’s famous crown melons. - Strawberry Ichigo Daifuku
A traditional sweet found at many artisanal stalls in Tokyo Midtown Yaesu. This treat consists of a whole.
When to go: The best months to visit Yaesu are late March to April for cherry blossoms and October to November for mild, dry weather and autumn foliage. While spring and autumn offer the most comfortable temperatures (15°C–23°C / 60°F–73°F).
Local tips
- Navigate the massive Yaesu Underground Mall (Yaechika) to reach nearby Nihonbashi or Ginza while avoiding street-level traffic and weather.
- Stand on the left side of escalators and move your backpack to your front when boarding crowded trains to maintain local flow and etiquette.
- Head to the fifth-floor terrace of Tokyo Midtown Yaesu for a free, quiet outdoor view of the Shinkansen platforms and station architecture.
- Finish snacks or drinks at the point of purchase rather than eating while walking, as consuming food on the move is considered impolite in this busy district.
What travelers are noticing
- Opening of TOFROM YAESU, a 51-story landmark featuring a tiered-floor theater, high-end medical facilities, and a major expansion of the Bus Terminal Tokyo Yaesu.
- The 'Hello, Spring! 2026' festival at Tokyo Midtown Yaesu, featuring a 3.5-meter 'Flower Shower' art installation and sustainable workshops using rescued blooms.
- The 'YAESU BIG HOLIDAY' event series, headlined by a 25-meter giant koinobori (carp streamer) walk-through installation in the 1F Galleria.
Planning questions
Where did Eater eat in Chuo City, Ginza?
This guide maps all 2 spots featured in the video, with names, addresses, and neighborhoods, so you can plan where to eat in Chuo City, Ginza.
What are the must-try foods in Chuo City, Ginza?
Creator picks from the video include Horsehair crab (Kegani) cold pasta, Steamed abalone (Awabi) with liver sauce, Smoked firefly squid (Hotaru-ika), Vinegared baby sea bream (Kasugo-dai). Open the map in Varedelo to see which spot each one is at.
Can I save these spots to use on my trip?
Yes. Open the map in Varedelo to save every spot, get directions, and revisit the guide from your phone while you travel.
Use it on your trip
Save this restaurant map before you go
Keep the mapped spots, creator context, food notes, and planning details together. Varedelo turns the page into a phone-friendly map you can revisit when you are choosing where to go.