In 1869, the title of daimyō was abolished, and he was appointed imperial governor of Matsushiro.

However, the following year, the peasants rose in a large scale revolt protesting taxes, corrupt officials and inflation.

In 1871, he relinquished his title and relocated to Tokyo with the abolition of the han system.

[1] In April 1872, Yukimoto departed Yokohama for Europe and the United States, returning in January 1873.

In 1884 he was awarded the title of viscount (shisaku) in the new kazoku peerage system and the Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd class.