A driving method includes generating an address discharge in selected cells out of discharge cells and setting the selected cells to either an emission enable state or a non-emission state in an address period which is set in each subfield period. The driving method also includes generating sustaining discharge in discharge cells being set to the emission enable state by applying at least one discharge sustaining pulse P+ between a scanning electrode and a common electrode constituting each row electrode pair, in a discharge sustaining period following the address period. The driving method also includes decreasing the applied voltage between the scanning electrode and common electrode in steps when a final applied pulse P+ out of the discharge sustaining pulses falls.