A fluorescence observation apparatus includes a fluorescence observation unit, which includes a scanner that scans ultrashort pulsed laser light from a light source, a pupil projection lens that focuses the laser light scanned by the scanner, an image-forming lens that converts the focused laser light to substantially collimated light and causes the laser light to be incident on an objective lens, and a dichroic mirror that splits off fluorescence that is generated by the laser light focused on a sample by the objective lens and is collected by the objective lens. A photodetector detects the fluorescence split off by the dichroic mirror. A multi-mode optical fiber connects the fluorescence observation unit and the photodetector. A swiveling mechanism causes the fluorescence observation unit to swivel about an axis near the focal position of the objective lens. And a light-source optical fiber connects the light source and the fluorescence observation unit.
