The invention provides an organic EL device that includes light-transmitting portions having a high transmittance factor and is suitable to light display units, a method for readily manufacturing such an organic EL device with a high yield, and a display unit including the organic EL device. An organic electroluminescent device includes a support substrate and an element region, disposed on the support substrate, including emissive portions and openings. The emissive portions each include an anode, an emissive layer containing an organic electroluminescent material, and a cathode that are arranged in that order and emit light rays to an irradiated body. The openings extend through the element region, and the emitted rays are reflected by the irradiated body to pass through the openings to form an image.