A polarization multiplexed optical transmitter includes first and second modulation units, combiner, phase controller, and signal controller. The first and second modulation units generate first and second modulated optical signals, respectively. The first and second modulation units include first and second phase shifter to give phase difference between optical paths of corresponding Mach-Zehnder interferometer, respectively. The combiner generates polarization multiplexed optical signal from the first and second modulated optical signals. The phase controller controls the phase difference by the first phase shifter to a target value and the phase difference by the second phase shifter to a value shifted by π from the target value. The signal controller controls operation state of at least one of the first and second modulation units based on optical intensity waveform of the polarization multiplexed optical signal.