A titanium oxide powder holding a barium compound on the surface of the particles thereof is used for manufacturing a highly crystalline fine barium titanate powder by solid-phase reaction. When the titanium oxide powder and a barium-containing powder material are mixed and calcined to prepare the barium titanate powder, the barium compound on the surfaces of the titanium oxide powder particles inhibits the sintering, or the growth, of the titanium oxide during the calcination. Consequently, the resulting barium titanate powder is highly crystalline and fine.