The present invention provides a barium titanate piezoelectric ceramic having good piezoelectric performance and mechanical strength and a piezoelectric element including the ceramic. The manufacturing method of piezoelectric ceramics includes: forming a molded body composed of oxide powder containing barium titanate particles; sintering the molded body; and lowering the temperature of the molded body after sintering. Sintering comprises (A) raising the temperature of the shaped body to a first temperature within the temperature range of the shrinkage process of the shaped body; (B) raising the temperature of the shaped body after (A) to the temperature of the shaped body A second temperature within the temperature range of the liquid phase sintering process; (C) after (B) reducing the temperature of the molded body to a third temperature within the temperature range of the molded body's shrinkage process; and (D) in ( C) after maintaining the third temperature.