<p>Provided is a method for fusion splicing of optical fibers by which air holes in a tip portion of a holey optical fiber can be effectively made transparent to allow core alignment with reduced deformation of the corner of an end surface of the optical fiber. A method for fusion splicing of a holey optical fiber 11 or 12 including a cladding having a large number of air holes along the axis thereof to another optical fiber by arc discharge heating includes performing first arc discharge heating such that the temperature of a position rearward of an end surface 11a of the holey optical fiber 11 is higher than the temperature of the end surface 11a, thereby making a tip portion 11c of the holey optical fiber 11 transparent; performing core alignment; and performing fusion splicing by second arc discharge heating. The first arc discharge heating is performed between discharge electrodes positioned rearward of the end surface of the holey optical fiber. The arc heating time of the first arc discharge heating is preferably 200 to 400 milliseconds.</p>
