Since he was as capable as his older brother Naomasa and ruled the territory around Kyoto, he was trusted by bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun) and engaged in the construction of the Imperial Palace and Osaka-jo Castle as the deputy Kyotoshoshidai (Governor-General of Kyoto) and the deputy Osakajodai (the keeper of Osaka-jo Castle).
兄・尚政と同様に有能かつ京都周辺の領地を支配したため、京都所司代代理・大坂城代代理を歴任し、禁裏造営の奉行や大坂城普請を務めるなど、幕府からの信任は厚かった。