A simulation method according to which a simulation apparatus, including a storage unit, generates a simulant image indicating a cut-out position of a wooden piece in raw wood and a shape of the wooden piece having a predetermined three-dimensional shape at shaping of the wooden piece from the raw wood, includes receiving an input of a grain pattern which is to appear on a surface of a wooden piece cut out from the raw wood; determining whether a wooden piece can be cut out from the raw wood so that the wooden piece has the three-dimensional shape and a surface showing a similar grain pattern to the received grain pattern; generating a simulant image indicating a cut-out position and a shape of the wooden piece in the raw wood, when it is determined that the wooden piece can be cut out; and outputting the generated simulant image.