A light emitting device (1, 2) comprising: a lens component; a light source placed at the light-source position and having a light distribution characteristic in which luminosity becomes smaller according to a distance from an optical axis, wherein the lens component disperses light from the light source; and a translucent cover that is disposed outside the lens component and that has a diffusing portion that diffuses light striking from the lens component, the lens component comprising: a light incidence portion that has an incidence surface stricken by light from the light source placed at the predetermined light-source position; and a plurality of light guiding portions (24A-24K) that branch from the light incidence portion and that extend radially with respect to the light-source position, each of the light guiding portions (24A-24K) including: a basal end portion joined to the light incidence portion; an emission end portion that emits light outwardly away from the light source; and a light-guide reflection surface that guides light that has stricken the basal end portion from the light incidence portion to the emission end portion while performing internal reflection, the light incidence portion, the plurality of light guiding portions (24A-24K), and the diffusing portion forming a light distribution structure, the light distribution structure being arranged so that a ratio of luminosity in a predetermined direction making a predetermined angle with the optical axis with respect to luminosity in a direction along the optical axis in light emitted from the light distribution structure is larger than a corresponding ratio in the light distribution characteristic of the light source. a lens component; a light source placed at the light-source position and having a light distribution characteristic in which luminosity becomes smaller according to a distance from an optical axis, wherein the lens component disperses light from the light source; and a translucent cover that is disposed outside the lens component and that has a diffusing portion that diffuses light striking from the lens component, the lens component comprising: a light incidence portion that has an incidence surface stricken by light from the light source placed at the predetermined light-source position; and a plurality of light guiding portions (24A-24K) that branch from the light incidence portion and that extend radially with respect to the light-source position, each of the light guiding portions (24A-24K) including: a basal end portion joined to the light incidence portion; an emission end portion that emits light outwardly away from the light source; and a light-guide reflection surface that guides light that has stricken the basal end portion from the light incidence portion to the emission end portion while performing internal reflection, the light incidence portion, the plurality of light guiding portions (24A-24K), and the diffusing portion forming a light distribution structure, the light distribution structure being arranged so that a ratio of luminosity in a predetermined direction making a predetermined angle with the optical axis with respect to luminosity in a direction along the optical axis in light emitted from the light distribution structure is larger than a corresponding ratio in the light distribution characteristic of the light source. a light incidence portion that has an incidence surface stricken by light from the light source placed at the predetermined light-source position; and a plurality of light guiding portions (24A-24K) that branch from the light incidence portion and that extend radially with respect to the light-source position, each of the light guiding portions (24A-24K) including: a basal end portion joined to the light incidence portion; an emission end portion that emits light outwardly away from the light source; and a light-guide reflection surface that guides light that has stricken the basal end portion from the light incidence portion to the emission end portion while performing internal reflection, the light incidence portion, the plurality of light guiding portions (24A-24K), and the diffusing portion forming a light distribution structure, the light distribution structure being arranged so that a ratio of luminosity in a predetermined direction making a predetermined angle with the optical axis with respect to luminosity in a direction along the optical axis in light emitted from the light distribution structure is larger than a corresponding ratio in the light distribution characteristic of the light source. a basal end portion joined to the light incidence portion; an emission end portion that emits light outwardly away from the light source; and a light-guide reflection surface that guides light that has stricken the basal end portion from the light incidence portion to the emission end portion while performing internal reflection, the light incidence portion, the plurality of light guiding portions (24A-24K), and the diffusing portion forming a light distribution structure, the light distribution structure being arranged so that a ratio of luminosity in a predetermined direction making a predetermined angle with the optical axis with respect to luminosity in a direction along the optical axis in light emitted from the light distribution structure is larger than a corresponding ratio in the light distribution characteristic of the light source.