A wavelength converter to which the invention is applied includes a phosphor that converts the wavelength of blue light to emit fluorescence, a rotating mechanism that rotates the phosphor around an axis of rotation that extends in a light incident direction in which the blue light is incident, and a heat insulating member that is provided between the phosphor and the rotating mechanism in the light incident direction. The phosphor has a coinciding section that coincides with the rotating mechanism when viewed in the light incident direction.