An image capturing unit comprises a variable optical element, an optical unit, and a light-flux limiting section. The variable optical element includes a first liquid member, a second liquid member, and a container which contains the first liquid member and the second liquid member. An interfacial shape between the first liquid member and the second liquid member varies according to a voltage which is applied to the liquid members. The light-influx limiting section satisfies following condition

0.1(-2h)20.0

where (mm) indicates a maximum diameter for an axial light-flux in the variable optical element and h (mm) indicates a highest position of the axial light-flux on the light-incident end of the variable optical element. By doing this, it is possible to restrict a flare light and a ghost light and prevent impurities in the liquid members from being observed in the captured image.