In 1179, Michichika became head of the Kurōdo-dokoro, and in 1180 he was promoted both to sangi, thus joining the ranks of the kugyō, and to provisional lieutenant general of the imperial guard (左近衛権中将).
Michichika joined the imperial outing to Itsukushima and relocation of the capital to Fukuhara-kyō in the first half of the year, but as the country fell into upheaval after the first battle of Uji, he returned to Heian-kyō in the autumn.
Shortly thereafter Taira no Kiyomori died and Go-Shirakawa reopened his cloistered rule, and the center of power continued to change at a dizzying pace.
Meanwhile, Michichika avoided relying on the patronage of any particular power, but participated passionately in debates at Go-Shirakawa's palace and worked diligently at the business of government, increasing his presence in the court.
Kanezane criticized Michichika harshly, calling him ungrateful for his promotion to junior second rank (従二位) the previous year, and in this no different from a bird or animal.
In 1191, Princess Kinshi was bestowed the Buddhist name of Senyōmon-in (宣陽門院), and Michichika became the steward of her household, appointing his sons Michitomo and Michimune to positions within it.
When Go-Shirakawa died in 1192, it was Senyōmon-in who inherited his largest territory Chōkōdō-ryō (長講堂領), and as Michichika was its effective manager, he brought the courtiers in control of it into his jurisdiction, forming a strong political foothold for himself.
Teika once again criticized Michichika for enforcing the appointment while knowing of Yoritomo's demise and then expressing his condolences and making a show of mourning the next day, calling this an "egregious plot".
[6] Yoritomo's death upset the political situation, and in the capital Ichijō Yoshiyasu [ja] plotted an attack on Michichika, forcing him to hide in the retired emperor's palace.
While respecting the viewpoint of the now-mature retired emperor Go-Toba, Michichika placed Kujō Yoshitsune as sadaijin and Konoe Iezane as udaijin to preserve peace between and with both families.
Even 1202 he appeared vigorous, acting as event manager when his adopted daughter Zaishi received the Buddhist name Shōmeimon-in (承明門院), and welcoming Go-Toba to a palace built by his sworn friend Fujiwara no Muneyori [ja], but he suddenly died that autumn at age 54.
When Konoe Iezane heard of his death, he recorded in his diary that Michichika had handled all the business of government,[8] and the court granted him the posthumous junior first rank (従一位).
Michichika's eldest son Michimune rose to the lower senior fourth rank (正四位下) and position of sangi, as well as lieutenant general in the imperial guard (左中将), but in 1198 he died at the age of 31.
The Horikawa and Tsuchimikado clans died out in the Muromachi period, but the Koga and Nakanoin families persisted until the Meiji restoration, joining the Kazoku peerage upon its creation.