An endoscope includes: an operation portion; an insertion portion pivotable relative to the operation portion; a pivot state switching instruction portion; a sliding member slidable in a longitudinal axis direction of the operation portion along with a switching operation of the pivot state switching instruction portion; a holding ring configured to hold the sliding member; and a pivot restriction switching device provided with a braking member on an end portion on pivot portion side of the sliding member, and configured to switch over a state of a pivot portion from a pivotable state to a pivot restricted state or from the pivot restricted state to the pivotable state, the braking member being pressed against and disposed on the pivot portion to apply braking force.