To provide a method for producing a cyclobutarene under conditions of generating no hydrogen chloride with which advantages to energy are afforded without requiring high temperatures of ≥600°C.

The method for producing the cyclobutarene is carried out as follows. An aromatic compound having an esterified methyl group and a methyl group or a substituted methyl group having at least one hydrogen in the o-position is brought into contact with a catalyst supporting at least one kind of element selected from a group 3, a group 4, a group 5, a group 6, a group 7, a group 8, a group 9, a group 10, a group 11, a group 12, a group 13, a group 14 and a group 15 of the periodic table on a carrier.