There is provided an exterior environment recognition device and an exterior environment recognition method. The exterior environment recognition device obtains a first image in a first exposure mode according to a level of light of an exterior environment, and obtains a second image in a second exposure mode of which exposure time is different from the first exposure mode and which allows determination as to whether a light emitting source is emitting light by itself or not. The exterior environment recognition device identifies, based on the first image, a vehicle area occupied by a vehicle preceding in a detection area, identifies a position of the light emitting source, based on luminance of the second image, and associates the position of the light emitting source and the vehicle area.