There is provided an optical characteristic measuring method for measuring an optical characteristic of an optical system which forms, on a second plane, an image of an object arranged on a first plane, the optical characteristic measuring method including: arranging, on the first plane, a first area through which a measuring light passes or by which the measuring light is reflected; arranging a second area, through which the measuring light passes or by which the measuring light is reflected, on the second plane at a position corresponding to the first area; and detecting, via one of the first area and the second area, a light amount of the measuring light via the optical system and the other of the first area and the second area; wherein at least one of the first area and the second area has a shape such that a light amount, of the measuring light which passes or which is reflected via the optical system, is changed depending on the optical characteristic.