After the succession of Imperial Prince Asahito (later called Emperor Higashiyama) to the Imperial Throne in 1687, he went to live at Sento-Imperial Palace and started ruling the cloister government (after this he was called Sento-sama, (Sir Sento)), and he organized the Great Thanksgiving Service (after the Enthronement of the Emperor) for the celebration of a new Emperor, which had not been done for a long time.
1687年に朝仁親王（東山天皇）への譲位にこぎつけた後に仙洞御所に入って院政を開始し（以後仙洞様とよばれるようになる）、その年には同じく長年中断していた新天皇の大嘗祭を行う。