A method for producing hydrogen peroxide by an anthraquinone process includes the steps of: reducing with hydrogen a working solution containing an organic solvent and anthraquinone in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst; and activating the hydrogenation catalyst when a hydrogenation selectivity has decreased due to repeated use, wherein the catalyst activation step includes a step of treating the hydrogenation catalyst with a first alkaline aqueous solution of pH 10 or above containing an alkali metal, and then washing the treated hydrogenation catalyst with water or a second alkaline aqueous solution that is more weakly alkaline than the first alkaline aqueous solution so as to set a catalyst soak solution comprising 5 parts by weight of pure water in admixture with 1 part by weight of the activated hydrogenation catalyst to a pH of 8.0 or above.