A recording apparatus is of a type which operates in combination with a recording head, the recording apparatus comprises a housing, a carriage for reciprocating the recording head carried thereon, an accommodation space for accommodating a reciprocative movement area of the carriage, disposed inside the housing, a cover member for opening or closing at least part of the accommodation space to the outside of the housing, an opening portion for communicating at least part of the accommodation space to the outside of the housing, formed by a relative displacement of the cover member from the housing, and an operation unit for operating the movement of the carriage from outside the housing via the opening portion and the accommodation space. The operation unit controls movement of the carriage to a position within the accommodation space in communication to the outside of the housing via the opening portion.