An inverted microscope includes a stage supporting a bottom member; an immersion objective disposed facing vertically upward such that a distal end thereof faces a bottom face of the bottom member; an alignment unit moving the stage or the immersion objective in an optical-axis direction of the immersion objective; a liquid injecting unit injecting liquid between the bottom face and the distal end; and a controller controlling the liquid injecting unit, in a state where the bottom face and the distal end are disposed with a gap therebetween, to inject the liquid onto the distal end to form a droplet, and controlling the alignment unit to bring the bottom member and the immersion objective closer to each other to bring the droplet into contact with the bottom face, thereby forming a liquid column, and moving the stage and the immersion objective relative to each other while maintaining the liquid column.