To provide a method of producing an activated porous carbon base material derived from paper, wherein the surface of the base material has high smoothness and fibrous carbon derived from a raw material paper is not exposed to the surface, thereby preventing short circuit from occurring when used as a capacitor electrode.

The porous carbon base material can be obtained by carbonizing and activating the paper. Then a layer where only a resin that does not contain a fiber is carbonized and activated is formed on one surface of the porous carbon base material.