An identification method for performing authenticity determination on an identification medium having code information and having a variable light pattern portion whose pattern of observed light varies upon a change in an observation angle and for performing reading of the code information includes generating, for captured image data of the variable light pattern portion of the identification medium, reference image data corresponding to the observation angle as the angle of an imaging direction of the captured image data with respect to a reference line of an observation target surface of the identification medium by a reference image generation unit, obtaining a degree of similarity between the captured image data and the reference image data, and performing, based on whether the degree of similarity exceeds a preset threshold, authenticity determination about whether the identification medium is authentic and reading the code information.