Man, there aren't any words to describe what I experienced and saw. It is in my opinion that nothing is open early or late enough, except for those that are 24hours. You can find ANYTHING you need, as long as you know where to look for it. That also probably had a little bit to do with the fact that I chose to make my visit outside of the regular tourist season, but that didn't stop me from getting out there and doing as much as I could. 
Here, it's work hard or play hard—and there's little overlap of the two. I curiously made my way into what I discovered to be a pachinko/slot hall. It's not quite the same as a casino would be here at home, there's just too much FUN to be had. While at home, casino slot machines chime in the C Major chords of C, E, and G (did you know that?) to pleasantly lull the gambler into a hypnotic state, here it's just a cacophony of noise—one song fighting to be heard above the other. Instead of coins, tokens, or chips, there are little metal balls that pour out into metal trays, their landings sounding like machine gun fire at some points. Trays of these are just stacked up on top of each other behind the respective player's seat as he pachinkos away the day. Game hosts make their way up and down the rows upon rows of machines, microphones in hand, calling out..I don't know what, but they sure are enthusiastic about it.
I have yet to discern if all of those little steel bearings turn into to cash at the end of the day or not, but I will, don't you worry. For those not wanting to spend their day seated at one lucky machine, there's also the game halls—full of either the infamous sticker-picture machines, or of the claw drop games. You know those—the ones where you strategically manouver a metal claw until it hovers above the prize you want it to grab, and then hit the plunge button to watch it drop and hope that both your aim was on and that the claw is strong enough to lift your booty to the collection gate.
Wow, two paragraphs just on gaming...
Also a great urban legend is the all accessible vending machine that rumouredly supplies you with everything you could ever want. I have yet to encounter ones that sell more than drinks or cigarettes, but I will let you know when I do. Very "Lost in Translation"-esque however, are the celebrity appearances that help to sell what's being sold inside.
Whether small and inobtrusive or grandly massive and a national landmark, shrines are a common appearance throughout what I saw of Tokyo. While I made it a point to visit several of those massively historic ones, my first one was actually met with quite accidentally as I was following HeroCookie's advice on the first day and was just "taking it all in" by going for a stroll around the block my hotel was on. The honest truth is that I cannot tell Japanese Buddhism from my own, Chinese Buddhism (I don't even know if that's how you would officially refer to them) but both have the same effect of striking me with awe whenever I'm met with rites and rituals, statues and structures. I don't think I could see enough of these. Luckily for me, there are many more of them on the way to see.
So much to do, yet so little time. Osaka, here I come!
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