There is provided an image recording method including modifying a surface to set a wetting tension index of a recording surface to 40 mN/m or more by carrying out a surface modification of the recording surface of an ink low-absorbing or non-absorbing recording medium, adhering a reaction liquid containing a flocculant to the recording surface after the modifying of the surface, and recording an image on the recording surface using an ink composition for ink jet recording containing a color material and water after the adhering of the reaction liquid.