A honeycomb filter includes a plurality of porous partition portions each forming a cell, which is open at one end and closed at the other end and serves as an exhaust gas flow path, and a trapping layer, for trapping and removing solid components contained in the exhaust gas, formed on each of the partition portions. At least part of each of the partition portions is loaded with a catalyst. The amount of catalyst a (g/L) in an upstream partition portion and the amount of catalyst b (g/L) in a downstream partition portion satisfy 1.05≦a/b≦3.00. A method for limiting a/b to this range includes the entire honeycomb structure, including the partition portions, into contact with a catalyst component to form a catalyst, and subsequently bringing only an upstream region of the honeycomb structure into contact with a catalyst component to form a catalyst.