A starting-point returning apparatus of a robot enables the returning to the starting point of an operation arm with a small movement. A controlling portion for returning a first operation arm to the starting point with respect to a support shaft includes a motor controller for controlling the motor, a pulse counter for counting the number of pulses generated from the motor while an aperture is sensed by a sensor, a memory for storing the pulse number of the motor corresponding to the length of each aperture, a position-sensor for sensing a current position of the first operation arm from the pulse number of the motor generated during the aperture-sensing period, an encoder for receiving a pulse signal corresponding to distance from the current position of the first operation arm sensed by the position-sensor to the starting point to the motor controller. Thus, the range, and therefore the time, for returning to the starting point can be minimized.