Catalytic reaction systems for the direct conversion of methane to methanol have been previously developed using Cu zeolites. Among these materials, the Cu-CHA has been reported to show relatively high catalytic performance during the reaction of CH 4 −O 2 −H 2 O mixtures, although this catalytic activity varies with composition. In the present study, four Cu-CHA catalysts having different compositions and catalytic activity levels were prepared, and the redox properties and local structures of these specimens were analyzed using in situ X-ray absorption fine structure and UV−vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopies in conjunction with a CH 4 −O 2 −H 2 O reaction mixture. The relationships between the redox rates of the materials and catalytic activities (as reflected in the turnover frequency (TOF) during CH 4 oxidation) were assessed, and this analysis showed that the Cu-CHA reduction rate was highly correlated with activity. The data also suggested that the Cu 2+ reduction is associated with the activation of C−H bonds in CH 4 , which is the rate-determining step for the overall reaction. The effects of the local structure of the Cu-CHA on selectivity for CH 3 OH, the TOF value, and the Cu 2+ reduction rate were studied. Those Cu-CHA samples having high proportions of Cu 2+ ions coordinated to six-membered rings (Z 2 Cu) in the CHA framework exhibited higher selectivity than specimens having high proportions of [CuOH] + ions coordinated to eight-membered rings (ZCuOH), although the TOF values of the former Cu-CHA specimens were not higher than those of the latter because of the slower reduction rates of Cu 2+ species. The different catalyses can be attributed to the difference in Cu 2 O x active structures formed in the Z 2 Cu-rich samples and the ZCuOH-rich samples.