An observation system includes: a container holding unit; a ring illumination, including a light source in a ring shape, arranged in a position opposed to an outer bottom surface of a container so that a central axis of the illumination is aligned to that of a bottom surface of the container held by the container holding unit, when an observation target is observed; a first light-shielding plate in a ring shape, having an inner diameter capable of varying, arranged between the illumination and the container holding unit, and configured to shield light from the illumination; a lens, arranged in a position opposed to an inner bottom surface of the container held by the container holding unit, to observe the observation target; and a second light-shielding plate, having an outer diameter capable of varying, arranged in an internal space of the illumination, and configured to shield light from the illumination.