An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries an
electrostatic latent image thereon; an electrostatic latent image forming
unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the image
carrier; a developing unit having a toner hopper that receives toner, and
a contact portion that contacts with a surface of the image carrier, the
contact portion being provided to be displaceable relatively along the
surface of the image carrier so as to transfer the toner received in the
toner hopper to the electrostatic latent image formed by the
electrostatic latent image forming unit; and a guide mechanism that
supports the developing unit to be displaceable in a predetermined
direction so as to bring the contact portion of the developing unit into
contact with an upper portion of the image carrier due to a weight of the
developing unit.