A surface texture measuring machine that measures a surface texture of a workpiece by tracing a surface of the workpiece with a stylus, the surface texture measuring machine comprising: a drive mechanism adapted to move the stylus in a measurement direction; a detector adapted to detect a displacement of the stylus vertically with respect to the surface of the workpiece; and a controller adapted to control the drive mechanism and the detector, wherein the controller is adapted to be operated in a normal measurement mode in which a designated range of the surface of the workpiece is measured and in a narrow-area measurement mode in which a narrow area of the workpiece is measured, in the narrow-area measurement mode, the controller is adapted to command the drive mechanism and the detector to perform: an approach section setting operation that is started by designating the narrow-area measurement mode, in which the stylus is moved toward an origin point (MPo) on the drive mechanism and, when the stylus reaches the origin point (MPo), the stylus is braked to be stopped after overrunning the origin point (MPo) and is in wait for a measurement start command; followed by bringing the stopped stylus into contact with a target portion of the workpiece; followed by an approach operation that is started by the measurement start command, in which the stopped stylus is moved in a measurement direction reverse to a direction of the overrunning; and followed by a measurement operation in which the stylus continues moving while acquiring data detected by the detector when the stylus passes the origin point (MPo) as a result of the approach operation. a drive mechanism adapted to move the stylus in a measurement direction; a detector adapted to detect a displacement of the stylus vertically with respect to the surface of the workpiece; and a controller adapted to control the drive mechanism and the detector, wherein the controller is adapted to be operated in a normal measurement mode in which a designated range of the surface of the workpiece is measured and in a narrow-area measurement mode in which a narrow area of the workpiece is measured, in the narrow-area measurement mode, the controller is adapted to command the drive mechanism and the detector to perform: an approach section setting operation that is started by designating the narrow-area measurement mode, in which the stylus is moved toward an origin point (MPo) on the drive mechanism and, when the stylus reaches the origin point (MPo), the stylus is braked to be stopped after overrunning the origin point (MPo) and is in wait for a measurement start command; followed by bringing the stopped stylus into contact with a target portion of the workpiece; followed by an approach operation that is started by the measurement start command, in which the stopped stylus is moved in a measurement direction reverse to a direction of the overrunning; and followed by a measurement operation in which the stylus continues moving while acquiring data detected by the detector when the stylus passes the origin point (MPo) as a result of the approach operation. an approach section setting operation that is started by designating the narrow-area measurement mode, in which the stylus is moved toward an origin point (MPo) on the drive mechanism and, when the stylus reaches the origin point (MPo), the stylus is braked to be stopped after overrunning the origin point (MPo) and is in wait for a measurement start command; followed by bringing the stopped stylus into contact with a target portion of the workpiece; followed by an approach operation that is started by the measurement start command, in which the stopped stylus is moved in a measurement direction reverse to a direction of the overrunning; and followed by a measurement operation in which the stylus continues moving while acquiring data detected by the detector when the stylus passes the origin point (MPo) as a result of the approach operation.