A method of controlling an endoscope includes,inserting an insert part having an imaging unit at a distal end through the body；making an imaging direction of the imaging unit variable by bending of a bending part,wherein the bending part is included in the insert part；detecting an amount of insertion of the insert part through the body； anddetermining whether the bending part is to be bent or not on the basis of operation of a direction input part depending on the amount of insertion.
