A lighting optical device (20) is disposed in a distal portion (16a) of an endoscope (11), and illuminates a target with light transmitted through a light guide (27). An optical element (40) has an incident surface (40a) facing the light guide, an outer circumferential portion (46b) having light reflection function, and a convex exit surface (40b). In a lens mounting hole (38) formed in the distal portion, a lens (41) is housed in front of and at a predetermined distance away from the optical element fixed in a lens barrel (43). An outer diameter of the lens is greater than that of the optical element. To allow light rays, coming out of a peripheral portion of the exit surface of the optical element and traveling parallel with an optical axis, to be incident on the lens, a diameter of a space between the optical element and the lens is greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the optical element.
