An image forming apparatus includes a carriage including a recording head that discharges liquid droplets for forming an image on a recording medium; a rail that supports the carriage in such a manner that the carriage reciprocates; a fixing part that fixes the rail; and an air stream creation part that creates an air stream. The fixing part is hollow, has a first inflow opening part and a discharge opening part, and the air stream created by the air stream creation part flows from the first opening part to the discharge opening part.