A counter circuit is provided that can switch delay times by use of a simple circuit configuration. A counter circuit includes plural stages of flip flops connected in cascade, in which a flip flop in a first stage receives a clock from an oscillator as an input signal, and a flip flop in a given stage after the first stage receives a Q output of a preceding stage as an input signal, wherein all or part of the plural stages of flip flops receive a mode signal, and wherein each of the plural stages of flip flops divides by 2 a frequency of the received input signal for output as a Q output when the mode signal indicates a normal delay mode, and each stage of the flip flops that receives the mode signal allows through passage of the received input signal for output as a Q output when the mode signal indicates a delay shortened mode.