A photoacoustic imaging apparatus includes a light irradiation unit, a receiving unit, and a processing unit. The light irradiation unit irradiates an object with first light for generating a photoacoustic wave corresponding to a positive coding element constituting a coding sequence and irradiates the object with second light for generating a photoacoustic wave corresponding to a negative coding element constituting the coding sequence. The receiving unit outputs a first signal by receiving the photoacoustic wave corresponding to the positive coding element, the photoacoustic wave being generated by irradiating the object with the first light, and outputs a second signal by receiving the photoacoustic wave corresponding to the negative coding element, the photoacoustic wave being generated by irradiating the object with the second light. The processing unit obtains a decoded signal by performing a decoding process on the first signal and the second signal based on information on the coding sequence.
