An object of the invention is to provide a driving unit, an optical unit, an imaging apparatus and an endoscope, in which a voice coil motor is used for advanceable and retractable movement of a movable part, and which uses a simple structure to generate a biasing force and is reduced in terms of size and weight. The driving unit 1 is characterized by including a tubular fixed part 2 with a given axis C as center, a movable part 3 located inside the fixed part 2 and having the axis C as center, a front frame part 4 attached to one end side of the fixed part and including at least a magnetic material and a voice coil motor 10 capable of moving the movable part 3 relatively with respect to the fixed part 2 in the axis C direction by a coil 11 located in the fixed part 2 and a magnet 12 located in the movable part 3, wherein the magnet 12 in the movable part 3 is biased by the magnetic material.
