Provided is a production process for a carbon material comprising an alkali activation reaction step in which a carbon precursor containing an activator selected from alkali metal compounds is heated under flow of inert gas. The above alkali activation reaction is carried out while allowing carbon dioxide gas to flow into a downstream part of an alkali activation reaction region on the condition that the carbon dioxide gas is not substantially brought into contact with the carbon precursor and the activator. This makes it possible to carry out alkali activation treatment safely and stably and obtain a carbon material useful for producing an electric double layer capacitor electrode having a high electrostatic capacity.