In 1863, together with the former Kanpaku Tadahiro Konoe and Imperial Prince Asahiko, Nariyuki gained the Satsuma clan and Kyoto shugoshoku (Military governor of Kyoto) Aizu clan over and carried out the Coup of August 18 successfully driving the Choshu clan and the extremist nobles (the exile of the seven nobles from Kyoto) out.
文久3年（1863年）前関白の近衛忠煕や朝彦親王とともに、薩摩藩および京都守護職の会津藩を引き入れ、八月十八日の政変を決行し、長州藩や過激派公卿の追放（七卿落ち）に成功した。