It is made possible to improve a recording density by leaps and bounds. An information recording and reproducing apparatus includes: a control portion including a record-erase circuit which causes electrons to be emitted from the electron emission end to a recording portion on a recording medium by applying a first voltage to the first electrode in a state in which a second voltage is applied to the second electrode at time of information recording or erasing, and a reproducing circuit which causes a reproducing current to flow from the electron emission end to the recording portion on the recording medium by applying a third voltage which is lower than the first voltage to the first electrode in a state in which the second voltage is applied to the second electrode at time of reproducing, the control portion detecting an electric resistance change caused by a change in a recording state in the recording portion.