An image scanning unit includes a translucent member, a transport unit, and a scan device. The translucent member has a flat face on which a document is contactingly transported by the transport unit while contacting the document against the translucent member. The scan device scans image information of the document transported by the transport unit at a scan position, and is fixedly disposed on a side of the translucent member opposite a side on which the document contacts the flat face of the translucent member. The translucent member includes a convex portion to lift the document transported by the transport unit from the flat face of the translucent member. The scan device scans the document at the scan position when the document transported by the transport unit passes over the convex portion and is still lifted from the flat face of the translucent member by the convex portion.