When the Meiji period started, it became impossible to provide for his many vassals and therefore, accepting the opinion of the chief retainer Shinkuro TOKIWA (Kenin TAMURA), Kunishige moved to Hokkaido leading his vassals and others from 1870, and reclaimed Usu County, Iburi Province (present-day Date City in Hokkaido).
明治に入ると、多くの家臣を養うことが不可能になり、家老常盤新九郎（田村顕允）の意見により1870年（明治3年）から家臣ほかを率いて北海道に移住、胆振国之内有珠郡、現在の伊達市(北海道)を開拓した。