A push button switch has a button section having a push operation surface that is made of a light-transmitting material, and a light guide plate arranged in parallel with the push operation surface, a moving mechanism that causes the button section to move in parallel with a pushing direction, a detecting section that detects when the button section has moved in parallel with the pushing direction, a light source that emits light that enters the light guide plate via a lateral surface of the light guide plate, and a base positioned on a rear surface side of the button section, on which the moving mechanism is disposed. The moving mechanism holds the button section at an area other than an area corresponding to the push operation surface. The detecting section and the light source are positioned outside the area corresponding to the push operation surface.