A method for manufacturing cordierite ceramics is provided, including forming and heating a cordierite-forming raw material containing α-alumina. The degree of orientation, expressed by (I006/(I300+I006), where Ihkl is height of X-ray diffraction intensity of an hkl-face of an α-alumina crystal, by X-ray diffraction measurement of an α-alumina crystal in a formed article of the raw material for forming cordierite is 0.10 or more.