A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device includes: a first wire and a second wire intersecting each other; a memory cell which is disposed at each intersection of the first wire and the second wire and electrically rewritable and in which a variable resistor for memorizing a resistance value as data in a nonvolatile manner and a rectifying device are connected in series; and a control circuit which applies a voltage necessary for writing of data to the first and second wires. The control circuit precharges a non-selected second wire up to a standby voltage larger than a reference voltage prior to a set operation for programming only a variable resistor connected to selected first and second wires by supplying the reference voltage to a non-selected first wire and the selected second wire, applying a program voltage necessary for programming of the selected variable resistor based on the reference voltage to the selected first wire and applying a control voltage which prevents the rectifying device from turning ON based on the program voltage to the non-selected second wire.