An information recording medium for high-density recording and reproduction that is low-cost and that has good rewrite characteristics. The information recording medium, in which recording is performed as an atomic arrangement is changed by optical irradiation, is capable of a number of rewrites. The information recording medium comprises a substrate on which a first protective layer with a thickness in the range from 18 to 65 nm, a recording film, a second protective layer, and a reflective layer are disposed in the mentioned order as seen from a light-incident side. Not less than 97 atomic % of the composition of the recording film is accounted for by Ge, Bi, and Te.