An optical element for terahertz waves includes: an optical component including a silicon surface, an antireflection film including an organic resin including a cycloolefin-based polymer as a main component, and inorganic particles dispersed in the organic resin; and an adhesive layer located between the optical component and the antireflection film in a thickness direction of the antireflection film and bonding the silicon surface of the optical component and the antireflection film to each other. The adhesive layer includes a thermally denatured olefin-based polymer.