A thermal insulating structure includes: at least two retainers that protrude from a to-be-insulated surface exposed to a vacuum space; at least two first multilayer vacuum insulating sheets adjacent to each other with the retainers positioned therebetween, the insulating sheets covering the to-be-insulated surface; at least one second multilayer vacuum insulating sheet that extends between the retainers along a boundary between the first multilayer vacuum insulating sheets in a manner to cover the boundary; at least two third multilayer vacuum insulating sheets that are adjacent to each other with the retainers positioned therebetween, the at least two third multilayer vacuum insulating sheets covering the first multilayer vacuum insulating sheets and the second multilayer vacuum insulating sheet; and a keep plate that is fixed to the retainers and holds the first multilayer vacuum insulating sheets, the second multilayer vacuum insulating sheet, and the third multilayer vacuum insulating sheets.