After the part-time land steward system was introduced, land stewards normally stayed in areas around the castle, delegating administrative authority to indigenous samurai living in local communities, but they were obligated to inspect their territories within four to five years after their appointment as land stewards.
なお「掛持ち地頭」の勤務形態になって以降、基本的には地頭は城下に滞在し行政は地元の郷士に任せていたが、藩法上、地頭は就任から4年～5年以内に1回目の現地視察を義務づけられていた。