According to one embodiment, a method is disclosed for manufacturing a nitride semiconductor device. The method can include removing a growth substrate from a structure body by using a first treatment material. The structure body has the growth substrate, a buffer layer formed on the growth substrate, and the nitride semiconductor layer formed on the buffer layer. A support substrate is bonded to the nitride semiconductor layer. The method can include reducing thicknesses of the buffer layer and the nitride semiconductor layer by using a second treatment material different from the first treatment material after removing the growth substrate.