The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a heterojunction semiconductor device including an AlGaN layer, the method including the steps of (a) forming a dummy electrode in a region where a gate electrode is arranged on the AlGaN layer, (b) depositing a dielectric film on the AlGaN layer by exposing side surfaces of the dummy electrode, using a device having anisotropy, (c) forming an opening in the dielectric film by removing the dummy electrode, and (d) forming the gate electrode that extends from inside the opening onto the dielectric film in a vicinity of the opening.