An endoscope apparatus comprising: an endoscope including an insertion portion having a bendable bending portion provided in the vicinity of a distal end of the insertion portion; a designation section that is adapted to designate a turning motion for turning a distal end of the bending portion with respect to a proximal end of the bending portion; wherein the designation section is adapted to designate the turning motion such that the distal end of the bending portion draws a circular trail on a turning plane perpendicular to an axis along a longitudinal direction of the bending portion when positioned in a neutral state where the bending portion is not bent and the bending portion lies on the axis from a proximal end of the bending portion to a distal side thereof, and the endoscope apparatus further comprising: a determination section that is adapted to determine a driving direction of the bending portion based on information on the turning motion designated by the designation section; and a bending driving section that is adapted to drive bending of the bending portion so as to cause turning motion of the bending portion in a state substantially without rotation of orientation from an axis of each bending direction of the bending portion, based on a driving direction determined by the determination section; and a bent shape detection section (57a, 57b) that is adapted to detect a bent shape of the bending portion; characterized by a bending portion shape generation section that is adapted to generate a video signal to represent a bent shape of the bending portion detected by the bent shape detection section (57a, 57b), wherein the bent shape of the bending portion is adapted to be displayed on a display apparatus during the turning motion. an endoscope including an insertion portion having a bendable bending portion provided in the vicinity of a distal end of the insertion portion; a designation section that is adapted to designate a turning motion for turning a distal end of the bending portion with respect to a proximal end of the bending portion; wherein the designation section is adapted to designate the turning motion such that the distal end of the bending portion draws a circular trail on a turning plane perpendicular to an axis along a longitudinal direction of the bending portion when positioned in a neutral state where the bending portion is not bent and the bending portion lies on the axis from a proximal end of the bending portion to a distal side thereof, and the endoscope apparatus further comprising: a determination section that is adapted to determine a driving direction of the bending portion based on information on the turning motion designated by the designation section; and a bending driving section that is adapted to drive bending of the bending portion so as to cause turning motion of the bending portion in a state substantially without rotation of orientation from an axis of each bending direction of the bending portion, based on a driving direction determined by the determination section; and a bent shape detection section (57a, 57b) that is adapted to detect a bent shape of the bending portion; characterized by a bending portion shape generation section that is adapted to generate a video signal to represent a bent shape of the bending portion detected by the bent shape detection section (57a, 57b), wherein the bent shape of the bending portion is adapted to be displayed on a display apparatus during the turning motion. a determination section that is adapted to determine a driving direction of the bending portion based on information on the turning motion designated by the designation section; and a bending driving section that is adapted to drive bending of the bending portion so as to cause turning motion of the bending portion in a state substantially without rotation of orientation from an axis of each bending direction of the bending portion, based on a driving direction determined by the determination section; and a bent shape detection section (57a, 57b) that is adapted to detect a bent shape of the bending portion; characterized by a bending portion shape generation section that is adapted to generate a video signal to represent a bent shape of the bending portion detected by the bent shape detection section (57a, 57b), wherein the bent shape of the bending portion is adapted to be displayed on a display apparatus during the turning motion.