An endoscope that has an insertion portion that is inserted into an interior of an object and an image pickup device that is provided in the insertion portion, and that observes the interior of the object via the image pickup device, includes: a first LED unit that is provided in the insertion portion and has an LED chip that is used to irradiate light into the interior of the object a second LED unit that is provided in the insertion portion and has an LED chip that is used to irradiate light into the interior of the object and an alternating conduction control unit that conducts power alternatingly to the first LED unit and the second LED unit.
