PURPOSE: To exactly reproduce the information recorded with a high density in the state of the high density by using a pickup optical system using the conventional laser beams.

CONSTITUTION: This magneto-optical recording medium is provided with a transmittance variable film 2 between a substrate and a magnetic film 4. This transmittance variable film 2 is formed out of a film having the nature that the transmittance is changed by a temp. change and that the transmittance decreases on the high temp. side. Such magneto-optical recording medium is irradiated with the laser beam of a prescribed power from the substrate side to read the recorded information out of a region A exclusive of the region where the transmittance of the transmittance variable film 2 decreases to a value below the specified value described above in the region S within the spot diameter of the laser beam.