To enable sure lighting of a fluorescent lamp at a low temperature and also to improve a light flux build-up characteristic immediately after the lighting.

A fluorescent lamp 16 is disposed on the door 11a side in the upper part of a refrigerating chamber 11 and a lighting device 18 is provided near the lamp, while a door switch is provided in the vicinity of a door 11a and the fluorescent lamp 16 is lighted or extinguished by a control circuit of the lighting device 18 in accordance with opening or closing of the door 11a. The control circuit is connected to a timer, and the timer, supplied with power, counts up after a prescribed time and closes an output contact, whereby the fluorescent lamp 16 is lighted. When a prescribed time passes, the timer opens the contact and the fluorescent lamp 16 is extinguished. The fluorescent lamp 16 is lighted or extinguished in accordance with the prescribed time of the closing or opening of the output contact of the timer which is not linked to the opening or closing of the door 11a. When the door 11a is opened, besides, the control circuit makes an input given to the fluorescent lamp 16 for a prescribed time immediately after lighting so that sufficient illuminance be obtained immediately after starting.