Provided is an apparatus for detecting a moving direction that can accurately detect the position, regardless of the moving direction. The moving direction detector includes groups of sensor elements that face a moving body to output detection signals in accordance with travel of the moving body. The detector includes signal processing units that convert output signals of the groups of sensor elements into rectangular waves and a moving direction detection unit that outputs a signal corresponding to a moving direction of the moving body based on the detection signals from the groups of sensor elements. The moving direction detection unit includes a delay function of generating an output signal at a time instant that is delayed by a predetermined time from a time instant when a moving direction of the moving body is changed.