Initially joining forces with the Sabaku-ha (supporters of the Shogun) during the last days of the Tokugawa shogunate, as more domains of Omi Province took sides with the new government, the Miyagawa Domain was left with no other choice than to follow them.
幕末期に入ると、宮川藩は佐幕派として活動したが、やがて近江国内における諸藩が新政府側に与すると、やむなく新政府側に与した。