An image coding method for coding a current block, by assigning two or more reference picture indexes to one or more reference pictures that are different from a current picture which includes the current block, and the image coding method comprises the following when the two or more reference picture indexes are used to code the current block: determining whether or not reference pictures identified by two or more reference picture indexes are identical to each other; and switching, based on a result of the determining, between whether or not a prediction direction for coding the current block in a predetermined coding mode is fixed.