A surface emitting laser is provided with an upper reflecting mirror having a photonic crystal structure with a point defect at the center, and emits a laser beam from the side of a lower reflecting mirror. An upper electrode is formed on the point defect at the center, and element resistance is reduced. A material transparent to a wavelength of the laser beam is used for a substrate. The emission efficiency is improved by reducing the element resistance of the photonic crystal surface emitting laser.