According to this invention, there is provided an image pickup unit for an endoscope, including a lens barrel portion which is configured to hold an objective lens including a movable lens and an image pickup device and includes a movable lens holding barrel that holds the movable lens and is movable to advance and retract and a drive mechanism portion which is disposed at a side surface portion of the lens barrel portion and drives the movable lens holding barrel. The unit has a holding portion which is disposed at the side surface portion of the lens barrel portion and is configured to position and hold the drive mechanism portion, the drive mechanism portion is shaped to extend in a direction toward a proximal end with a gap with the lens barrel portion on a side closer to the proximal end than the holding portion, and the gap between the lens barrel portion and the drive mechanism portion is filled with an adhesive which is made to have a difference in hardness such that hardness becomes lower toward a proximal end side.
