An ink jet recording apparatus configured to perform recording by discharging ink from a plurality of discharge ports disposed on a recording head. The apparatus includes a cap adapted to cover the plurality of discharge ports disposed on the recording head, a recessed portion defined on a bottom face inside the cap, a suction hole facilitating introducing a negative pressure to the recessed portion, an atmosphere communication hole located outside a range of the recessed portion and communicating with atmosphere, an ink absorber mounted inside the cap to cover the recessed portion, and a suction pump connected to the suction hole and configured to generate a negative pressure. When the plurality of discharge ports is covered with the cap, a projection image obtained when the plurality of discharge ports is projected onto the bottom face exists within the range of the recessed portion.