Endoscope

An endoscope, comprising:

• an insertion portion;
• a raising base provided at a distal end of the insertion portion;
• a wire configured to move in a raising direction to raise the raising base;
• a biasing element attached to the wire and configured to apply to the wire a first biasing force in the raising direction;
• and
• an operation portion coupled to a proximal end of the insertion portion, the operation portion including a switching mechanism having a first state and a second state,
• wherein the switching mechanism is configured to switch between the first state and the second state,
• wherein, in the first state, the switching mechanism prevents the first biasing force from moving the wire in the raising direction and, in the second state, the switching mechanism allows the first biasing force to move the wire in the raising direction, and
• wherein a proximal end of the biasing element is connected to the wire.