To provide a method for producing 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone of high purity, useful as a raw material for vitamin E, by using 2,6-dimethylphenol that can inexpensively and industrially be mass-produced by dialkylation of phenol with methanol.

2,6-Dimethylphenol is oxygen-oxidized to prepare 2,6-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone and the 2,6-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone is hydrogenated to prepare 2,6-dimethyl-hydroquinone. Then, the resultant 2,6-dimethyl-hydroquinone is aminomethylated to form Mannich salt and the Mannich salt is subjected to hydrogenolysis to produce 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone.