A magnetic recording apparatus provides improved resolution and S/N without adversely affecting thermal stability. An angle formed by the direction of easy magnetization of a recording layer and the direction normal to a magnetic recording medium is in the range between 5null and 55null, the easy magnetization direction is from a back surface of the recording layer toward a front surface thereof, and when a recording track direction is from the upstream of the direction of transportation of the medium toward the downstream thereof, an angle formed by the direction of a projection of the easy magnetization direction on the medium plane and the recording track direction is in the range between 0null and 70null.