A polycrystalline sintered ceramic including (A) a garnet phase and (B) a perovskite, monoclinic or silicate phase wherein fine grains of phase (B) are included and dispersed in phase (A) is used as a wavelength converting member. Since the light transmitting through the wavelength converting member is scattered at the interface between the garnet phase and the perovskite, monoclinic or silicate phase, a light emitting device including the wavelength converting member produces light of more uniform color with a minimized loss thereof.