A semiconductor device of the invention includes a first conductive type
semiconductor base substrate; and a switching mechanism which is formed
on a first main surface of the semiconductor base substrate and switches
ON/OFF of a current. In the semiconductor base substrate, a plurality of
columnar hetero-semiconductor regions are formed at spaced intervals
within the semiconductor substrate, and the hetero-semiconductor regions
are made of a semiconductor material having a different band gap from the
semiconductor substrate and extend between the first main surface and a
second main surface opposite to the first main surface.