An optical connector used for inputting light to an optical element from an external optical system or outputting light from an optical element to an external optical system includes a photonic crystal having a periodic refractive index structure, and an optical waveguide to be optically coupled to the optical element and a region in which a plurality of defects are formed at intervals equal to or less than four times the refractive index period a of the photonic crystal are formed in the photonic crystal. The region has a size equal to or greater than the wavelength of the light input from the external optical system or the wavelength of the light output to the external optical system, and the external optical system and the optical waveguide are optically coupled to each other via the region. The optical connector has an improved optical coupling efficiency, can achieve optical coupling of a plurality of light components of different wavelengths, and can readily achieve alignment.