A path setting method enabling utilization of request information from a user in a communication network having a path of a higher layer and a path of a lower layer formed in a hierarchy and performing communication between one communication apparatus and another communication apparatus for which a path is set by repeating through another communication apparatus. This method has a step of judging a possibility of reaching the destination communication apparatus in the higher layer, judged in the communication apparatus existing in the middle of the path, a step of transmitting a lower layer path setting request message obtained by further adding route designating information and bandwidth information in a higher layer path setting request message when it is judged there is no possibility of reaching the apparatus, and a step of notifying the transmitted lower layer path setting request message to each communication apparatus on the route reaching the destination communication apparatus.