A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a sequence controller. The sequence controller is configured to apply MT (Magnetization Transfer) pulses having a frequency different from a resonance frequency of free water protons and then acquires magnetic resonance signals of an object to be imaged. The sequence controller acquires the magnetic resonance signals for each of multiple frequencies while changing the frequency of MT pulses within a frequency band based on a T2 relaxation time of restricted protons contained in the object to be imaged.