An optical wheel according to the present invention includes a luminescent material light emitting area on which light in a first wavelength range is incident from one side to thereby emit luminescent light excited by the light in the first wavelength range from another side, and a controlling and diffusing optical area including a controlling section on which the light in the first wavelength range is incident from the one side and configured to cause a diffusing characteristic of the light in the first wavelength range to differ between in a radial direction and in a circumferential direction.