An image pickup unit that includes: - an objective lens; - an image pickup device having a light receiving portion; - a prism being arranged between the objective lens and the light receiving portion of the image pickup device and having a reflective surface for bending an optical axis of the objective lens; - a holding frame that is a frame-shaped member that surrounds the optical axis of the objective lens, and holds the prism therein; - a flexible printed wiring board; - an electronic component; - the image pickup device comprising: - a projecting portion projecting from the prism in an opposite direction to the objective lens with respect to the prism and extending further to the rear than said prism; - the light receiving portion on which an object image is formed by the objective lens and the reflective surface, and - a terminal portion for performing electrical inputting and outputting to and from the image pickup device and provided on the projection portion on the same face of the image pickup device as the light receiving portion; - the flexible printed wiring board having a front section that extends over the reflective surface and a rear section that extends over the face of the projecting portion on which the terminal portion is provided, said flexible printed wiring board comprising: - an image pickup device connection terminal portion that is formed at the rear section of the flexible printed wiring board at a position opposite to the terminal portion and on a face of the flexible printed wiring board facing the projecting portion; - a cable connection terminal portion; and characterized in that: - the cable connection terminal portion is formed at the rear section of the flexible printed wiring board on a face on an opposite side to the face on which the image pickup device connection terminal portion is provided, and to which an electrical cable for electrically connecting the image pickup device to an external apparatus is connected; and - the electronic component is mounted at the front section of the flexible printed wiring board on a face on an opposite side to the reflective surface at an area that extends over the rear face of the reflective surface of the flexible printed wiring board. - an objective lens; - an image pickup device having a light receiving portion; - a prism being arranged between the objective lens and the light receiving portion of the image pickup device and having a reflective surface for bending an optical axis of the objective lens; - a holding frame that is a frame-shaped member that surrounds the optical axis of the objective lens, and holds the prism therein; - a flexible printed wiring board; - an electronic component; - the image pickup device comprising: - a projecting portion projecting from the prism in an opposite direction to the objective lens with respect to the prism and extending further to the rear than said prism; - the light receiving portion on which an object image is formed by the objective lens and the reflective surface, and - a terminal portion for performing electrical inputting and outputting to and from the image pickup device and provided on the projection portion on the same face of the image pickup device as the light receiving portion; - a projecting portion projecting from the prism in an opposite direction to the objective lens with respect to the prism and extending further to the rear than said prism; - the light receiving portion on which an object image is formed by the objective lens and the reflective surface, and - a terminal portion for performing electrical inputting and outputting to and from the image pickup device and provided on the projection portion on the same face of the image pickup device as the light receiving portion; - the flexible printed wiring board having a front section that extends over the reflective surface and a rear section that extends over the face of the projecting portion on which the terminal portion is provided, said flexible printed wiring board comprising: - an image pickup device connection terminal portion that is formed at the rear section of the flexible printed wiring board at a position opposite to the terminal portion and on a face of the flexible printed wiring board facing the projecting portion; - a cable connection terminal portion; and - an image pickup device connection terminal portion that is formed at the rear section of the flexible printed wiring board at a position opposite to the terminal portion and on a face of the flexible printed wiring board facing the projecting portion; - a cable connection terminal portion; and - the cable connection terminal portion is formed at the rear section of the flexible printed wiring board on a face on an opposite side to the face on which the image pickup device connection terminal portion is provided, and to which an electrical cable for electrically connecting the image pickup device to an external apparatus is connected; and - the electronic component is mounted at the front section of the flexible printed wiring board on a face on an opposite side to the reflective surface at an area that extends over the rear face of the reflective surface of the flexible printed wiring board.