A space that closely approximates the state of an actual flame is reproduced without depending on temporal periods. Namely, by reproducing a spatiotemporal pattern of a flame, the light source can be caused to emit warm light, whereby a compact and inexpensive imitation flame generating apparatus is provided. The imitation flame generating apparatus 1 comprises a light source 10 and a control device 40 for controlling the output of electric current to the light source 10. The control device 40 comprises computation means 41 for computing a spatiotemporal pattern of the flame using a coupled map lattice, and output means 42 for outputting the electric current in accordance with the thus computed spatiotemporal pattern of the flame.