A lighting unit includes a single core optical fiber, a light converter, and an exit end. The single core optical fiber includes an incident end and a distal end, and is configured to guide primary light, which is a laser light incident on the incident end, to the distal end. The light converter is formed inside the optical fiber, and is configured to receive the primary light guided by the optical fiber, convert optical properties of at least part of the received primary light and generate secondary light. The exit end is arranged at the distal end of the optical fiber, and is configured to emit the secondary light externally as illumination light.