In addition to security of the two grand shrines Geku (outer shrine) and Naiku (inner shrine), he also controlled the supervision of suspicious foreign ships in Ise Bay and the southern sea, even outside of Ise-Shima shrine territory, but the most important duty of the Yamada Bugyo, who was equal in standing to the Nikko Bugyo, was to carry out the '21st year rebuilding of Ise Shrine.'
外宮・内宮両大神宮の警固は勿論の事、伊勢湾・南海での異国不審船の取締りや伊勢志摩神領以外も支配したが、「日光御奉行」と同等同格の「山田御奉行」の最重要任務は「二十一年目御遷宮奉行」を取り仕切る任務であった。