An electron emitting device includes a lower electrode, a surface electrode, an electron acceleration layer between the lower electrode and the surface electrode, and an electrode selecting unit. The electron acceleration layer is made of at least an insulating material. At least one of the lower electrode and the surface electrode is a stripe-pattern electrode including a plurality of unit electrodes that are regularly arranged. The electrode selecting unit sequentially selects, from among the plurality of unit electrodes, a unit electrode to which a voltage is to be applied. A voltage is applied between the lower electrode and the surface electrode to accelerate electrons between the lower electrode and the surface electrode, so that the electrons are emitted from the surface electrode.