Originally Posted by Pickles
Given that, your best bet is probably just to get on the next train, sit on an unoccupied seat, and hope for the best. Train conductors will sometimes just let you "ride", especially if you play clueless gaijin.
Exactly so. I hopped on an earlier Kyoto-KIX Haruka than the one I had a reservation for, and the conductor shrugged and discreetly rolled his eyes at the hopeless gaijin. He then of course went into the traditional formal greeting speech at the front of the car followed by the traditional deep bow, and all was once again right in the Rising Sun land.