An optical transmitter includes an optical transmission unit, a drive unit, an arithmetic circuit, and a bias supply circuit. The optical transmission unit includes a laser element. The drive unit drives the laser element according to a first transmission signal. The arithmetic circuit generates a second transmission signal. The bias supply circuit superimposes the second transmission signal on a bias current of the laser element. An output of the arithmetic circuit containing the second transmission signal is a digital signal in a rectangular wave form based on a reference clock having a frequency lower than a reference clock frequency of the first transmission signal. The bias supply circuit includes a circuit element for inclining a rising portion and a falling portion of the output of the arithmetic circuit.