An optical control element is disclosed that can be made small and has a low loss, and is able to provide group speed control and wavelength dispersion of short light pulses. The optical control element is formed from a photonic crystal, and includes a first portion having a first refraction index in the photonic crystal, a second portion having a second refraction index lower than the first refraction index, and a refraction-index-distributed type defect wave guide. A difference effective refraction indexes between the first portion and the second portion near the refraction-index-distributed type defect wave guide, changing continuously or stepwise along a wave guiding direction of the refraction-index-distributed type defect wave guide.