To provide an ink jet recording apparatus which can improve the handleability of a plurality of ink tanks by users and can always realize a normal recording operation in accordance with a setting position of the ink tank by automatically identifying ink tanks and furthermore automatically identifying the ink tank correspondingly to the setting position of the ink tank in an ink jet recording apparatus of an ink tank exchange type, and to provide an ink jet recording method.

A type of ink in the ink tank 7 is identified on the basis of a reflecting light 6b of an illumination light 6a emitted towards the ink tank 7 on a carriage 1.