An endoscope includes an insertion unit, a hardness varying member, a hardness varying wire and a relay member. The insertion unit includes a tip portion, a bending portion, and a flexible portion. A hardness of the hardness varying member increases in accordance with compression in a tube center direction. The hardness varying wire which is inserted into the hardness varying member compresses the hardness varying member by a pulling operation. The relay member which is provided between one end of the hardness varying member and a connecting ring or a bending piece, is more flexible than the hardness varying member, and is attached in a state of having deflection when the flexible portion is in a straight state, Alternatively, the relay member is made of an elastic material, and is attached in an extended state when the flexible portion is in a straight state.
