A method for manufacturing a nitride semiconductor device includes: selectively ion-implanting an element that is other than p-type impurities and n-type impurities into a first region in a first primary surface of a gallium nitride layer so as to generate crystal defects in the first region; selectively ion-implanting a p-type impurity into a second region in the gallium nitride layer, the second region being shallower than the first region in a depth direction and being within the first region in a plan view; and thermally treating said gallium nitride layer that has been ion-implanted with said element and said p-type impurity so as to thermally diffuse said p-type impurity in the second region into a third region that is within the first region and that surrounds a bottom and sides of the second region.