<b><i>Background/Aims:</i></b> Early-stage gastric cancer (EGC) is detected even after successful <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> eradication. This study is aimed at clarifying the clinicopathological characteristics of EGC detected after successful <i>H. pylori</i> eradication. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This retrospective study analyzed 57 cases of EGC detected after successful <i>H. pylori</i> eradication and resected endoscopically at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, between January 2009 and June 2014. Clinicopathological findings of 57 cases (<i>H. pylori</i>-eradicated group) were investigated, and compared with those in active <i>H. pylori </i>infection resected in the same period (<i>H. pylori</i>-positive group). <b><i>Results:</i></b> Most EGCs were detected in patients with severe atrophic mucosa, both in <i>H. pylori</i>-eradicated and <i>H. pylori</i>-positive groups, while the percentage of EGC detected in patients with mild atrophic mucosa gradually increased over time from successful eradication (<i>H. pylori</i>-positive: 7%, up to the fourth year since eradication: 11%, after the fifth year since eradication: 32%). The percentage of EGC detected in patients with mild atrophic mucosa after the fifth year since eradication was significantly higher than that in patients with active <i>H. pylori </i>infection (<i>p</i> = 0.004). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> After the fifth year following eradication, we should be alert to the incidence of EGC, irrespective of the severity of mucosal atrophic change.