An ion generating apparatus prevents a determination that no ions are being generated even when ions are being generated. The ion generating apparatus includes: an ion generator that generates ions; an ion detector that detects generated ions; an air blower that blows the generated ions to an outside through an air supply passage; and a control section that controls driving of the ion generator and the air blower. The control section stops the air blower at a start of operation, performs ion detection using the ion detector, and determines whether ions are being generated. When the control section determines that no ions are being generated, the control section continuously performs a determination of ion generation. When the control section determines that no ions are being generated in all determinations, it is finally determined that no ions are being generated.