The ink jet printing apparatus includes: an ink jet head having a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged and a nozzle guard with an opening at a portion corresponding to the nozzle row, provided at a position via a gap with respect to an ink ejection surface of the nozzle row; a sheet shaped absorbing member having a size that covers a range of the opening of the nozzle guard; and a capping unit that presses the absorbing member onto the opening of the nozzle guard.