A nozzle surface wiping apparatus wipes a nozzle surface of a droplet ejection head while moving relatively with respect to the head. The apparatus includes: a band-shaped wiping web; a pay-out spindle which pays out the web; a take-up spindle which is rotated to take up the web; a pressing device which causes the web travelling between the pay-out spindle and the take-up spindle to be pressed against the nozzle surface; a drive roller around which the web travelling between the pressing device and the take-up spindle is wrapped, the drive roller being rotated to apply conveyance force to the web toward the take-up spindle; and a driving device which drives the drive roller and the take-up spindle in such a manner that a velocity at which the web is taken up by the take-up spindle is faster than a velocity at which the drive roller applies the conveyance force to the web.