An ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink composition, an ink encasement in which the ink composition is encased, a recording head that ejects the ink composition, and a carriage configured to move the recording head back and forth. The carriage carries the ink encasement, with the ink encasement integrated with the carriage. The ink encasement has an ink fill port that opens and shuts as a port through which the ink composition is loaded. The ink composition contains a disperse colorant, with the volume-average particle diameter of the disperse colorant being 110.0 nm or more and 200.0 nm or less, and also contains at least one organic solvent with an SP of 9 or more, with the percentage thereof being 10.0% by mass or more.