Image pickup unit for endoscope

An image pickup unit for an endoscope, comprising:

• a lens barrel portion which is configured to hold an objective lens including a movable lens disposed on a distal end side and an image pickup device disposed closer to a proximal end side than the objective lens and includes a movable lens holding barrel that holds the movable lens and is movable to advance and retract;
• and
• a drive mechanism portion which is disposed at a side surface portion of the lens barrel portion and drives the movable lens holding barrel,
• wherein the unit has a holding portion which is disposed at the side surface portion of the lens barrel portion and is configured to position and hold the drive mechanism portion,
• the drive mechanism portion is shaped to extend in a direction toward a proximal end with a gap with the lens barrel portion on a side closer to the proximal end than the holding portion, and
• the gap between the lens barrel portion and the drive mechanism portion is filled with an adhesive which is made to have a difference in hardness such that hardness is lower on a proximal end side than on a distal end side.