An automatic transmission includes a piston that is movable in an axial direction, a plurality of friction plates disposed on a side of a first surface of the piston, a fastening hydraulic chamber that applies a hydraulic pressure to a second surface of the piston to move the piston to a fastening position where the friction plates are pressed to be fastened to each other, a release hydraulic chamber that applies a hydraulic pressure to the first surface of the piston to move the piston to a release position where the friction plates are released, and a hydraulic pressure control valve that supplies and discharges the hydraulic pressure to and from each of the fastening hydraulic chamber and the release hydraulic chamber. An area of the second surface of the piston for receiving the hydraulic pressure is set to be larger than an area of the first surface for receiving the hydraulic pressure.