On April 24, 1867, after campaigning in Saigoku (western part of Japan (especially Kyushu, but ranging as far east as Kinki)), he separated from the Shinsengumi to investigate the movements of the Satsuma Domain and receive an official appointment as guard of the Emperor's tomb, and formed Goryo-eiji (Kodaiji-to Party) with 14 comrades including Shinohara and Suzuki.
西国を遊説した後の慶応3年3月20日、薩摩藩の動向探索と御陵警備任務の拝命の名目に新選組を離脱し、篠原や鈴木など同志14名と共に御陵衛士（高台寺党）を結成する。