The system of kaisho varies from town to town; in Osaka 'so-kaisho' (general kaisho) was set up as a higher institution in each one of the three areas collectively called 'Osaka sango' (three areas of Osaka), on the other hand, in Edo the town headman's official residence was used as 'machi-gaisho.'
都市によってもその仕組みに違いがあり、大坂ではいわゆる「大坂三郷」を構成する各郷ごとに上部機関として「惣会所」が設置されたが、江戸では町名主の役宅が町会所が兼ねた。