The present invention provides a method for culturing photosynthetic microalgae with which xanthophyll can be obtained more efficiently than before. The method for culturing photosynthetic microalgae of the present invention comprises: step (A) of increasing the number of cells in which light irradiation (a) of encysted photosynthetic microalgae containing xanthophyll is performed； and step (B) of increasing the xanthophyll content in photosynthetic microalgae in which light irradiation (b) of the photosynthetic microalgae subjected to the step (A) of increasing the number of cells is performed, wherein the light irradiation (a) is light irradiation using as a light source an LED including blue light having a wavelength of 400 to 490 nm, the light irradiation (b) is light irradiation using as a light source an LED including blue light having a wavelength of 400 to 490 nm and an LED including red light having a wavelength of 620 to 690 nm, and the light irradiation (a) and the light irradiation (b) are light irradiations using different light sources.
