The Meiji Restoration took place during the rule of the ninth lord Masayasu HOTTA, who by returning its lands and people to the emperor became the governor of the domain which was eventually replaced with Miyagawa Prefecture on August 29, 1871, with the Haihan-chiken (abolition of feudal domains and establishment of prefectures) enforced.
そして第9代藩主・堀田正養の時代に明治維新、次いで版籍奉還により藩知事となり、明治4年（1871年）7月14日の廃藩置県で、宮川藩は廃藩となり、宮川県となった。