An optical unit includes: a cylindrical fixing member configured to retain at least one of an object-side fixed lens group and an image-side fixed lens group； a cylindrical movable member configured to retain a movable lens group between the groups and arranged on a radial-direction inner side of the fixing member slidablly with respect to the fixing member, the cylindrical movable member having a same central axis as the cylindrical fixing member； a voice coil motor including: a coil arranged in the fixing member； and magnets arranged on the movable member and magnetically polarized in a direction intersecting with the central axis, the voice coil motor being capable of moving the movable member relative to the fixing member along a direction of the central axis； and a rotation restricting member configured to restrict rotation of the movable member about the central axis with respect to the fixing member.
