Provided is a method for manufacturing a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet. The method comprises: hot rolling a slab to obtain a hot rolled sheet; subjecting the hot rolled sheet to hot band annealing as necessary; subjecting the hot rolled sheet to cold rolling; subjecting the cold rolled sheet to decarburization annealing; applying an annealing separator having MgO as a main component onto a surface of the decarburization annealed sheet and subjecting the decarburization annealed sheet to final annealing to form the forsterite film; and applying an insulating coating treatment liquid onto the final annealed sheet and subjecting the final annealed sheet to flattening annealing to form a tension-applying insulating coating. A difference in total tensions between one and opposite surfaces of the sheet is less than 0.5 MPa. A difference in tensions between the forsterite films in one and opposite surfaces of the sheet is 0.5 MPa or more.