As the grand sumo tournament has a historical background of having been developed from kanjin zumo (fund-raising sumo held in aid of a temple or a shrine), it used to be performed irregularly in the precincts of temples and shrines, and lacked its own stadium for a long period.
一方、勧進相撲として発達した大相撲は、その歴史的背景から各地の寺社の境内で不定期に興行されるのが常態で、長らくの専用の競技場を持たなかった。