A magneto-optical storage medium includes an interference layer, a magnetic domain expansion layer, an intermediate layer, a magnetic masking layer, a recording layer, and a protection layer which are sequentially formed on a substrate. The magnetic domain expansion layer produces a smaller frictional force due to wall coercivity than do the other magnetic layers. The intermediate layer has the Curie temperature TC2 which is lower than those of the other magnetic layers. The magnetic masking layer is in a perpendicular magnetization state at temperatures that are in a proximity of TC2, and changes into an in-plane magnetization state at temperatures that are higher than the proximity of TC2. The recording layer produces a higher coercive force than those produced by the magnetic domain expansion layer at room temperature.