A method of estimating heat distribution of an image display unit includes: calculating, based on image data, an average current value of a pixel area in a display surface, the pixel area including at least one pixel in an image display unit, the image display unit including pixels arranged therein; calculating heat generation amount data by multiplying the calculated average current value by a predetermined current-heat conversion coefficient to convert the calculated average current value into a value corresponding to an amount of heat generation; and adding the heat generation amount data to a value of a first heat distribution table to update the first heat distribution table, and creating a new first heat distribution table by performing a two-dimensional low pass filter process on the updated table before multiplying a value of the processed table by a predetermined heat dissipation coefficient, at every predetermined period.