Using JR pass on local stations in rural areas

Hi there,

For all train travel, reservations must be made using the JR Pass, and a confirmation email will be sent to you. Unmanned stations have no gates at all, and are found out in the countryside where you will likely not encounter them. In the case you come to an unmanned station you can just enter and exit freely with a JR Pass as there are neither gates nor people to show your pass to. Make sure to make reservations though, just in case!

Kind regards,

Alexis

Hi, from what I know, local trains don't require reservations.
So i think it is either using the JR pass to "get through the gate", or buy a ticket itself.

Saw in youtube video that the Sekigahara station is unmanned, and the gantry gate are open by default, and there seem to be cctv.

"Freely" entering & exiting the gate is one option, but kind of feels wrong/illegal to just walk past freely, and there's no one to show my JR pass to.