A concise approach to 5-arylamino-4H-pyran-4-ones is described via palladium-catalyzed amination reaction. The methodology involved in this Letter is based on protection/ deprotection protocols and on manipulation of the 5-hydroxy group of readily available kojic acid. It would provide a new entry to a range of 5-arylamino-4H-pyran-4-ones via Buchwald– Hartwig-type amination reaction on 4H-pyran-4-one unit.