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While some consider window shopping to be torture--especially when your dream bag is within arms reach--it actually is great way to develop smart shopping skills. Look at it like this: window shopping allows you to plan for future purchases where you'll maximize your money's worth because you've tediously looked through all the options. It's also a leisurely way to practice restraint, which is a skill applicable to anything from eating to sleeping.

Being broke from purchasing that Trina Turk bikini with matching Gucci sunglasses to boot should not stop you from making your shopping rounds. It is in fact the perfect time to hit those high-end boutiques because you can educate yourself on luxury without denting your pocket.

In Tokyo, window shopping is like walking into a museum minus the entrance fee and "don't touch the artwork" policy. Ginza is one of the places where you can satiate the need to "shop" and get a dose of art and architecture as well. Store fronts and boutique buildings encapsulate the brand's identity through steel and shards of glass while adding beauty to the cityscape.

My favorites include the striking Lanvin boutique, which is edgy and elegant at the same time. Architect Hiroshi Nakamura made use of 3000 acrylic cylinders that act as tiny holes where we can peep into to see Alber Elbaz's creations. These same holes add an interesting lighting scheme to be relished once inside the store.

For LV fans, the Jun Aoki designed Louis Vuitton store in Ginza might show you a different side of your favorite brand. Instead of the trademark flashy gold and the current ad campaign on its windows, the store takes on a subtle look by using orange and white. The store appears to be illuminated from the inside and a cleverly plays on light and shadow.

And for a whole building of fun, I'd recommend the uniquely shaped DeBeers headquarters designed by architectural firm Jun Mitsui & Associates. Launched just last month, its curvy facade--which is said to match the brand's surrealist streak--literally stops you in your tracks.

So while you may not take home a bag full of goodies, window shopping can help you get richer both financially and culturally, which is what counts in the long run.