After I came across matplotlib github, I found what I was looking for: the upcoming version 2.x branch , while I am writing this, has xtick.top , etc. as parameters in the new matplotlibrc template.
So, the answer is that at the time of this writing, these functions may not be available for templates, and the @ user2927356 method may be all that I can use before matplotlib 2.x is released.
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