An ink jet recording apparatus has a recording liquid container storing recording liquid therein, a recording head which is supplied with the recording liquid from the container and which discharges the recording liquid to effect printing on printing paper, and a carriage on which the recording head and the recording liquid container are mounted. The recording head is secured to the carriage. The apparatus further has a recording liquid supply member having one opening connected to the recording head. The other opening of the recording liquid supply member is tightly insertable into the recording liquid container. By inserting the recording liquid supply member into the recording liquid container, the recording liquid is supplied from the recording liquid container to the recording head through the recording liquid supply member.