A culture apparatus for microscopic viewing enables effective microscopic viewing at high magnification of samples such as cells suspended in a culture solution while the samples are maintained at a uniform temperature. The apparatus is used to microscopically view a sample placed on a microscope stage, and is provided with a housing unit that houses the vessel containing a culture solution and the sample; a lid that closes the aperture on the upper surface side of the housing unit; a transparent sheet top heater provided in the portion of the lid that corresponds to the viewing area; and a temperature detecting means where a thin wire detection unit penetrates into the interiors of the housing unit and a well plate to directly measure the temperature of the culture solution. Based on the temperature information, a controller controls the temperature of the transparent sheet top heater using a feedback method.