The present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus which has a recording head having at least one nozzle which ejects liquid droplets of ink to record an image on a recording medium. The ink jet recording apparatus includes a mist collecting device for collecting a mist that does not impact against the recording medium and a catalytic decomposing device for decomposing organic components in the mist by means of a catalyst. The catalyst is preferably a photo semiconductor catalyst. Further, the apparatus preferably has an air suction device and/or a collector for collecting the mist. The catalytic decomposing device also preferably has a light irradiation device.