On 1 May 1943, the ship was reassigned to the Ōminato Guard District and departed Truk on 26 May in a convoy to Yokosuka that was unsuccessfully attacked by on 3 June. "Tokiwa" was reassigned to the 18th Escort Squadron of the 7th Fleet on 20 January 1944. "Tokiwa" laid thousands of mines in the waters off Okinawa in June 1944 and Yakushima in February 1945. Ironically, "Tokiwa" was herself mined on 14 April 1945, approximately off Hesaki, Kyūshū suffering moderate damage. She was later damaged again by mines laid by USAAF B-29 Superfortress bombers on 3 June 1945. At some point during the war, her armament was augmented with approximately ten 25 mm Type 96 AA guns in single mounts and 80 depth charges. In addition she was fitted with Type 3, Mark 1, Model 3 and Type 2, Mark 2, Model 1 air search radars.