A glass panel unit including a first panel including at least a first glass plate; a second panel arranged to face the first panel and including at least a second glass plate; a frame member formed in a shape of a frame, corresponding in shape to respective peripheral portions of the first panel and the second panel extending along edges thereof, and bonded to the peripheral portions; and at least one spacer provided in a vacuum space between the first panel and the second panel. The at least one spacer containing a polyimide, where the polyimide has an absorption edge at which an absorption index decreases in an optical absorption spectrum ranging from an ultraviolet ray to visible radiation, the absorption edge being equal to or less than 400 nm, and the polyimide includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a fluorine group and a chlorine group.