There is provided a highly efficient virtual image projection device in a small size that displays images of high luminance in which an illumination system is reduced in size with no degradation in an effective luminous light beam. A virtual image projection device that shows video to a human eye includes a virtual light source surface (116) that emits a light beam in a predetermined angular distribution, an image forming lens (117) that condenses the light beam from the virtual light source surface (116), and a display (120) that creates video. When the virtual light source surface (116) is disposed at a nearly focal position on the front side of the image forming lens (117), the display (120) is disposed at a nearly focal position on the rear side of the image forming lens.