An image pickup unit 40 for an endoscope of the present invention includes a dioptric system 44 (45) that reflects a luminous flux of an optical image incident on an optical lens group 43 and performs optical path conversion, an image sensor 46 in a bare state that is joined to the dioptric system 44, and includes a light receiving element 46a that forms the optical image, and a light shielding member 50 that is placed to be opposed to and cover at least surfaces around a longitudinal direction except for a joining surface of the dioptric system 44 to the image sensor 46, so that an air gap 51 apart from the image sensor 46 by a predetermined distance is provided, shields incidence of a harmful light onto the light receiving element 46a, and is formed from a metal thin film, prevents upsizing, is structured to prevent a possibility of electrostatic destruction to the image sensor, shields an unnecessary light to the light receiving element of the image sensor and can acquire a favorable video.
