A nitride semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor layer made of first nitride semiconductor; a second semiconductor layer formed on a principal surface of the first semiconductor layer and made of second nitride semiconductor having a bandgap wider than that of the first nitride semiconductor; a control layer selectively formed on, or above, an upper portion of the second semiconductor layer and made of third nitride semiconductor having a p-type conductivity; source and drain electrodes formed on the second semiconductor layer at respective sides of the control layer; a gate electrode formed on the control layer; and a fourth semiconductor layer formed on a surface of the first semiconductor layer opposite to the principal surface, having a potential barrier in a valence band with respect to the first nitride semiconductor and made of fourth nitride semiconductor containing aluminum.