This invention provides a superconducting tunnel junction element showing satisfactory Josephson effect. The element includes a Bi-based layered compound such as Bi.sub.2 Sr.sub.2 (Ca.sub.0.6 Y.sub.0.4)Cu.sub.2 O.sub.8, Bi.sub.2 Sr.sub.2 Cu.sub.2 O.sub.6 and Bi.sub.2 Sr.sub.2 CaCu.sub.2 O.sub.8 as the barrier layer between the superconducting oxide electrodes. The structural matching of the superconducting oxide with the Bi-based compound is supposed to be good. Some kinds of Cu-based superconducting oxides such as YSr.sub.2 Cu.sub.2.7 Re.sub.0.3 O.sub.7, Sr.sub.2 CaCu.sub.2 O.sub.6 and (La.sub.0.9 Sr.sub.0.1).sub.2 CuO.sub.4 are used for the electrodes to obtain a Josephson element which can work at a high temperature. When using the superconducting oxides including Ba such as YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7 for the electrode, forming a thin film between the electrode and the barrier is better to prevent Ba from reacting with Bi in the barrier layer. The superconducting device comprising the element has various uses such as magnetic detecting use, communicating use and computing use.