An endoscope (1) includes a manipulation unit (3), and an insertion unit (2) which is disposed in continuation to the manipulation unit. The insertion unit (2) contains a bending portion (12) which has a plurality of articulation wheels (21) coupled in succession, two adjacent ones of the articulation wheels (21) being coupled by a shaft member (31) so as to be relatively turnable around the shaft member (31) which crosses the center axis of the bending portion (12), the bending portion (12) being bent in such a way that a wire (16) which leads to the manipulation unit (3) via the plurality of articulation wheels (21) is tractively manipulated. The shaft member has a guide part (32) formed with an insertional hole (33) through which the wire (16) is inserted, and at least the guide part (32) of the shaft member (31) is turnable around the center axis of the shaft member (31), to both the two articulation wheels (21) coupled by the shaft member.
