Reduction of an ilmenite concentrate as a natural concentration containing 49.78 mass% TiO₂ and 27.96 mass% total Fe by H₂–Ar gas mixtures was investigated from 1073 to 1273 K. Both the reduction degree and reduction rate increased with the increase of temperature and hydrogen content. The reduction degree of the ilmenite decreased due to the presence of impurities including manganese and silicon oxides in the ilmenite concentrate. During the reduction, the formation of manganese and silicon oxide-enriched zones prevented complete reduction of Fe²⁺. The reduction products were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscope with energy disperse spectroscopy and optical microscopy analysis, respectively. The main phases in reduced products were reduced iron, rutile, reduced rutiles, pseudobrookite and Ti₃O₅. The reduction reaction proceeded topochemically and the reduction kinetics was discussed. It was found that the rate controlling step was the diffusion of hydrogen gas in the reduced layer.