After the enthronement to the Imperial succession, he ruled the cloistered government as the Retired Emperor Goshirakawa, however his government was often suspended due to the opposition between Emperor Nijo and Emperor Takakura.
譲位後は後白河院として院政を行うが、二条天皇や高倉天皇との対立により、院政停止に追い込まれることもあった。