A method for manufacturing a grain oriented electrical steel sheet having an iron loss value W 17/50 of 0.85 W/kg or less, comprising the steps of: subjecting a steel slab having a composition consisting of, by mass %, C: 0.020% to 0.15% inclusive of 0.020% and 0.15%, Si: 2.5% to 4.0% inclusive of 2.5% and 4.0%, Mn: 0.005% to 0.3% inclusive of 0.005% and 0.3%, acid-soluble aluminum: 0.01% to 0.05% inclusive of 0.01% and 0.05%, N: 0.002% to 0.012% inclusive of 0.002% and 0.012%, at least one of S and Se by the total content thereof being 0.01% or more and 0.05% or less, optionally one or more elements selected fromNi: 0.005% to 1.5% inclusive of 0.005% and 1.5%, Sn: 0.005% to 0.50% inclusive of 0.005% and 0.50%, Sb: 0.005% to 0.50% inclusive of 0.005% and 0.50%, Cu: 0.005% to 1.5% inclusive of 0.005% and 1.5%, and P: 0.005% to 0.50% inclusive of 0.005% and 0.50%, and the balance as Fe and incidental impurities to heating and subsequent hot rolling to obtain a hot rolled steel sheet; subjecting the hot rolled steel sheet to hot-band annealing; subsequently subjecting the hot rolled steel sheet to at least two cold rolling operations with intermediate annealing therebetween to obtain a cold rolled steel sheet having final sheet thickness; and subjecting the cold rolled steel sheet to primary recrystallization annealing and then secondary recrystallization annealing, wherein a thermal treatment is carried out, after the hot-band annealing and prior to any one of cold rolling operations other than final cold rolling, at temperature in the range of 500°C to 750°C inclusive of 500°C and 750°C for a period in the range of 10 minutes to 480 hours inclusive of 10 minutes and 480 hours, wherein temperature-increasing rate between 500°C and 700°C in the primary recrystallization annealing is at least 50°C/second. subjecting a steel slab having a composition consisting of, by mass %, C: 0.020% to 0.15% inclusive of 0.020% and 0.15%, Si: 2.5% to 4.0% inclusive of 2.5% and 4.0%, Mn: 0.005% to 0.3% inclusive of 0.005% and 0.3%, acid-soluble aluminum: 0.01% to 0.05% inclusive of 0.01% and 0.05%, N: 0.002% to 0.012% inclusive of 0.002% and 0.012%, at least one of S and Se by the total content thereof being 0.01% or more and 0.05% or less, optionally one or more elements selected fromNi: 0.005% to 1.5% inclusive of 0.005% and 1.5%, Sn: 0.005% to 0.50% inclusive of 0.005% and 0.50%, Sb: 0.005% to 0.50% inclusive of 0.005% and 0.50%, Cu: 0.005% to 1.5% inclusive of 0.005% and 1.5%, and P: 0.005% to 0.50% inclusive of 0.005% and 0.50%, and the balance as Fe and incidental impurities to heating and subsequent hot rolling to obtain a hot rolled steel sheet; subjecting the hot rolled steel sheet to hot-band annealing; subsequently subjecting the hot rolled steel sheet to at least two cold rolling operations with intermediate annealing therebetween to obtain a cold rolled steel sheet having final sheet thickness; and subjecting the cold rolled steel sheet to primary recrystallization annealing and then secondary recrystallization annealing, wherein a thermal treatment is carried out, after the hot-band annealing and prior to any one of cold rolling operations other than final cold rolling, at temperature in the range of 500°C to 750°C inclusive of 500°C and 750°C for a period in the range of 10 minutes to 480 hours inclusive of 10 minutes and 480 hours, wherein temperature-increasing rate between 500°C and 700°C in the primary recrystallization annealing is at least 50°C/second. <EOS>