Kido arrived in Kyoto to join the new Meiji government in February 18, 1868. He was given the pen name "Shogiku" or "The Pine and Chrysanthemum."

He assisted in drafting The Charter Oath of Five Articles, the Emperor’s statement on behalf of principles of centralization and westernization.

From 1868-1877, Kido held various offices. He was Imperial Councilor from 1869-1874, and 1875-1876. In 1871-1873 he had traveled abroad with Iwakura as a diplomatic mission, but returned having failed to revise the unequal treaties with the West. Kido’s charge on the mission was to investigate the American and European constitutions, and educational and military organizations.

He returned to Japan, committed to the cause of reform with peace, abandoning an earlier proposal to invade Korea. He wanted to encourage the establishment of a constitution along German lines around 1873. It was intended by him to broaden participation in government, but on a limited and gradual basis.

He left the office in 1874 to protest the Taiwan expedition, but returned in 1875 after the Osaka Conference which he took as an indication that his constitutional ideas would be implemented. When it did not happen, he retreated in 1876 to a different position which would allow him to oversee the moral instruction of the young Meiji Emperor.

Over time, Kido became critical of measures that impoverished the Shizoku (samurai) and peasantry. He had seen how his comrades had become impoverished and also recognized the danger inherent among the discontent samurai. He himself had barely escaped in 1870 from Choshu with his life. (And again was witness to turmoil in Choshu province in 1876.)

Other wars
In terms of his participation in later wars, he viewed the Boshin wars from afar, but saw those dispatched – like Yamigata Aritomo -- off, and was present to give them victors’ welcomes when they returned.

Kido initially advocated punishing Yoshinobu for his actions, but later proposed his release in order for him to lead the Tokugawa forces against the rebel remnants in Hokkaido. This was not approved. (His “Winning the hearts of men” ideology seems to have consistently allowed for leniency for former opponents and is not the first and only incident with which he advocated clemency in his diaries.)

Kido was apparently appalled by reports of mass suicides from Aizu, where as many as one-third from the houses of the Wakamatsu castletown committed suicide. He was mortified by reports of brutality and in particular commented on one account where a family of seven committed suicide, including a child. (“What crimes have the women and children committed? I feel sorrow that they should die as such.”) On January 28, 1868 he passed the deserted Aizu mansion in Tokyo and made other comments in his diary.

When he heard of Aizu men falling into destitution while hiding in Tokyo – he arranged for 1000 ryo to be paid over so they might not starve.

His Death
He died May 26, 1877 in Kyoto, where he had gone to attend the Emperor during the response to the Satsuma Rebellion.

*His death was likely due to a combination of TB, complicated by beri-beri. However, over the course of his life he had numerous ailments of which he complained privately.