He had a younger brother, Sanetomi SANJO, a meritorious vassal in the Meiji Restoration (the politician who took the posts of Udaijin and Daijo-daijin [Grand Minister] which were equivalent to the premiership before the post of Prime Minister was established).
弟に明治維新の功臣三条実美（内閣総理大臣が設置されるまでの日本政府の首相である右大臣・太政大臣の地位にあった政治家）がいる。