When the Taira clan, who had been in rapid decline since TAIRA no Koyomori died in February 1181, was forced to leave the Capital, Kyoto before an upcoming attack by MINAMOTO no Yoshinaka in 1183, Motomichi rejected TAIRA no Nobumoto's persistent requests to leave Kyoto together with the Taira clan despite of his and his family's close relationship with the Taira clan in the past, and eventually opted to stay in Kyoto.
1181年閏2月に清盛が死去して平家が急速に衰退し、1183年の源義仲の攻勢の前に都落ちを余儀なくされたときは、これまでの縁の深さから平家と行動をともにするよう平信基に迫られるが、最終的にこれを拒絶し都にとどまった。