true that! if you love to venture..get out of tokyo. But shopping is mostly there like asakusa, shinjuku, idabashi, harajuku and etc.

Japan is rich with cultures...It's better to check what festive they are having during the month then go to the specific prefectures and watch their celebrations.

I would like to go to Kyoto & Okinawa. I've been told by the government there are many traditional sight scene places. Each prefectures have their own unique festives & other stuffs. Northern part (Akita-ken) is more like plains & rice field. But is good place to visit!