An image decoding method includes: obtaining first reference picture information from a coded signal; determining whether or not a second reference picture identified by the first reference picture information is stored in a buffer; determining, when the second reference picture is not stored in the buffer, a picture stored in the buffer to be a third reference picture; and decoding a current picture from the coded signal using a fifth reference picture selected from one or more fourth reference pictures including the third reference picture instead of the second reference picture.