A novel method for manufacturing 5-methyl-2-(piperidin-4-ylamino)pyridine is established. This method can be used as an industrial manufacturing method to produce a 4-(5-methylpyridin-2-ylamino)piperidine-1-carboxylic acid derivative represented by the general formula, (wherein R represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an aralkyl group having 7 to 12 carbon atoms) in a reaction solution having an aromatic monocyclic hydrocarbon as a reaction medium, in the presence of sodium triacetoxyborohydride as a reducing agent, or after adding sodium borohydride and acetic acid to the reaction solution in advance.