A photoacoustic image generation apparatus includes: a puncture needle (15) including a photoacoustic wave generation portion that absorbs light and generates photoacoustic waves； an acoustic wave detection unit (20) having a piezoelectric element array in which a plurality of piezoelectric elements that detect the photoacoustic waves are arranged； a control unit (28) that specifies some piezoelectric element groups in the piezoelectric element array and switches the piezoelectric element groups to acquire detection signals of all receiving regions in the piezoelectric element array； a photoacoustic image generation unit (24) that generates a photoacoustic image on the basis of the detection signals of the photoacoustic waves； and a tip position detection unit (29) that detects a position of a tip portion of the puncture needle (15) on the basis of the photoacoustic image. The control unit (28) specifies the piezoelectric element groups on the basis of the position of the tip portion of the puncture needle (15) detected by the tip position detection unit (29).
