After the Meiji Restoration was accomplished, Hijikata served for the new government, and in 1868, he was appointed as Tokyo-fu (Tokyo government office) Hanji (judge), and then Chinsho-fu (pacification commander government office) Benji (official).
明治維新成った後は新政府に仕え、明治元年（1868年）には東京府判事、ついで鎮将府弁事に任命される。