A photoacoustic image generation apparatus includes: a puncture needle (15) having a photoacoustic wave generation portion (15c)； a probe (11) that detects photoacoustic waves generated from the photoacoustic wave generation portion (15c) and reflected acoustic waves reflected by transmission of acoustic waves to the subject； a photoacoustic image generation unit (23) that generates a photoacoustic image on the basis of the photoacoustic waves； an ultrasound image generation unit (24) that generates a reflected acoustic image on the basis of the reflected acoustic waves； a tip position detection unit (25) that detects the position of the tip of the puncture needle (15) included in the photoacoustic image； and a measurement unit (28a) that measures a distance between a measurement point on the reflected acoustic image and the position of the tip of the puncture needle detected on the photoacoustic image.
