In an image recognition method of recognizing a plurality of images from an input image, the plurality of images to be recognized including at least one of a specific image and images provided by rotating the specific image, the method includes the steps of: preparing at least one of mask areas on a window area for each image to be recognized, the window area being structured by cells which are arrayed in two-dimensionally, the cell being formed of at least one pixel, the mask area being structured by at least one of the cells and corresponding to an area representing a feature of the image to be recognized; first determining whether or not the image to be recognized exists based on the result of subjecting pixel density values of the input image in the mask area to operation for each image to be recognized; and second determining whether or not any of the plurality of images to be recognized exists in the window area based on the determination result of the first determining step.