The present invention is a method for manufacturing a negative electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery. The method includes depositing silicon on a substrate by vapor deposition by using a metallic silicon as a raw material, the substrate having a temperature controlled to 300° C. to 800° C. under reduced pressure; and pulverizing and classifying the deposited silicon. The resulting negative electrode active material composed of silicon particles is an active material useful as a negative electrode of a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery in which high initial efficiency and high battery capacity of silicon are kept, cycle performance is superior, and an amount of a change in volume decreases at the time of charge and discharge.