A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer having a first principal surface on one side thereof and a second principal surface on the other side thereof, a channel region of a first conductivity type formed at a surface layer portion of the first principal surface of the semiconductor layer, an emitter region of a second conductivity type formed at a surface layer portion of the channel region in the semiconductor layer, a drift region of the second conductivity type formed in a region of the second principal surface side with respect to the channel region in the semiconductor layer so as to be electrically connected to the channel region, a collector region of the first conductivity type formed at a surface layer portion of the second principal surface of the semiconductor layer so as to be electrically connected to the drift region, a cathode region of the second conductivity type formed at a surface layer portion of the second principal surface of the semiconductor layer so as to be electrically connected to the drift region and including a continuously laid around line-shaped pattern, and a gate electrode formed at the first principal surface side of the semiconductor layer so as to face the channel region across an insulating film.