The present invention provides a nitride semiconductor light emitting device having an n-electrode that has an Au face excellent in ohmic contacts to an n-type nitride semiconductor and excellent in mounting properties, and a method of manufacturing the same. The nitride semiconductor light emitting device uses an n-electrode having a three-layer laminate structure that is composed of a first layer containing aluminum nitride and having a thickness not less than 1 nm or less than 5 nm, a second layer containing one or more metals selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, Mo, and Pt, and a third layer made of Au, from the near side of the n-type nitride semiconductor in order of mention. The n-electrode thus formed is then annealed to obtain ohmic contacts to the n-type nitride semiconductor.