The present invention provides an anisotropic light scattering element that is further improved in controlling of the viewing angle and also reduced in the thickness. The anisotropic light scattering element has an anisotropy in the scattering intensity, and includes an anisotropic light scattering layer having an anisotropy in the light scattering intensity depending on the polarization direction of incident linearly polarized light, and a birefringent layer having a phase difference of less than 1/10 wavelength with respect to incident light in a normal direction and a phase difference with respect to incident light in a direction inclined from the normal that is different from the phase difference with respect to incident light in a normal direction. The birefringent layer develops a phase difference with respect to incident light in a direction inclined from the normal.