An optical reception device is provided. The optical reception device includes a filtering unit that receives input light of predetermined power, filters the input light by use of filter characteristics where the degree of attenuation of the power of an optical signal of predetermined frequency is lower than the degree of attenuation of the power of an optical signal of another frequency, and supplies an output light; and a determining unit that compares a value relevant to the power of the output light supplied by the filtering unit, with a threshold, and determines whether the input light contains signal light.