The purpose of the present invention is to provide a top-tape loading apparatus and an automatic tape setting apparatus, wherein a top tape is automatically set onto a tape feeder. A top-tape loading apparatus is provided with: a route forming apparatus that forms a tentative tape into a shape that conforms to the transferring route of a top tape, and holds the tape; a connecting apparatus that connects the tentative tape held by the route forming apparatus to the top tape that has been peeled off a carrier tape at a first tape holding unit; and a transfer unit that transfers the tentative tape connected to the top tape, from the route forming apparatus to a tape feeder.