To prevent hands from spotting during the attachment of an ink ribbon in a printing apparatus for carrying out printing etc., by using the ink ribbon.

A ribbon guide unit 1 is provided with a support part movably supporting the ink ribbon 15 held in a ribbon cartridge 14, a guide part 2 with its upper part slanted, a ribbon protector 5 with its upper part curved to the side of the platen, an engagement piece 4 for engaging with the engaging part 21 of the upper part of a printing head 19 in the guide part 2, and a fitting piece 9 fitting with the fitting part 10 of a printing head carriage 18.