An image processing apparatus, determines, using a pixel signal included in a region referenced on a pixel of interest of a target image, a direction having a high signal correlation in the region, performs, using pixel signals from neighboring pixels of the pixel of interest based on a determination result, interpolation processing for interpolating a pixel signal of the pixel of interest, and performs reduction by reducing the number of pixels of the interpolated image, wherein the interpolation processing is executed according to a reduction rate used in the reduction, such that a high frequency component of the image decreases as a degree of reduction increases, while applying a weight to the pixel signal of a pixel, among the neighboring pixels, located in the direction determined as having the high correlation based on the determination result.