Toyota City/Nagoya area - HALP!!

[Msterbeau]

Hi,

I'm Marc. Here for a few months at least doing "training" for my U.S. based job. Would like to get out and learn more both about the immediate area and places like Nagoya, Osaka and of course, Tokyo. Web sites only offer so much info. I'm particularly interested in finding decent places to shop, clubs to dance in, etc. Looking for the "art" districts and alternative sorts of hangouts - assuming those terms have any meaning here. For clubs I'm looking for (Have found some) goth/industrial/punk ish sorta places. Something similar is acceptable. I go mad if I don't dance a couple times a month. Also looking for first hand advice on getting around and communicating. I can't figure out most of what I'm looking at/reading.

Thanks for listening... PM with ideas.