Nanolithography by atomic force microscope local oxidation was applied to the fabrication of planar-type Ni/Ni oxide/Ni junctions from 10 nm-thick Ni films. The junction characteristics were sensitive to the lithography conditions such as the bias voltage. Successful oxidation produced junctions of nonlinear current-voltage characteristics, implying the formation of oxide barriers. Magnetoresistance (MR) at low temperatures resembled that of spin valves.