A radio tag communication apparatus that communicates with radio tags including storing units capable of storing identification information and state information of articles includes a search-condition setting unit for reading the state information, which is a search target, a radio tag communication unit configured to perform communication with the radio tag under a set search condition using a first reading function for reading the radio tag without designating the radio tag and a second reading function for designating the radio tag, setting a transmission output, and repeatedly reading the radio tag, a comparison determination unit configured to perform comparison determination of information read by the first reading function and the search condition, and communication control unit configured to control the radio tag communication unit according to result of the comparison determination to switch the reading operation by the first reading function to the reading operation by the second reading function.