An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording medium for which the problem of bronzing is prevented and an image formed on the ink jet recording medium has good color representation, light-fastness and water resistance. The ink jet recording medium comprises a substrate, and an ink-receiving layer that consists of at least one layer, is provided on the substrate and has an outermost surface, wherein the degree of cationization at the outermost surface is different to, specifically less than, the degree of cationization in the ink-receiving layer other than the outermost surface.