Janus particles are usually composed of parts with two or more different physical or chemical properties, and are characterized by structural asymmetry, which leads to asymmetries in particle morphology and physical properties. Compared with static Janus particles, dynamic Janus particles, which can realize stimuli-response, can interact with the environment well to express their special role in a specific environment under external stimulus. Photoresponsive Janus particles are asymmetric particles that can respond to specific light stimuli. Different materials on both sides of Janus particles can not only compound with different types of photoresponse, but also can compound with other types of stimuli-responses, to achieve precise regulation of specific systems. Because the energy of light can be easily regulated, photoresponsive Janus particles can produce specific reactions to inorganic nanoclusters or organic functional groups. So photoresponsive Janus particles can present photothermal effect, color adjustment, photodynamic therapy and other unique properties. They can also be applicated in drug delivery, biological sensing and imaging, micro nanomotors and photoluminescence, which provides a new way to solve problems in the field of biomedicine and optical devices. In this paper, the recent development of preparation methods of inorganic and polymeric photoresponsive Janus particles are introduced, and their unique regulatory mechanism and outstanding applications in the fields of biomedicine and luminescent materials are emphasized. Finally, the challenges and development prospects in this field are discussed.