A large-capacity magnetic storage apparatus is disclosed, capable of performing ultra-high density magnetic recording of 50 gigabits or more per 1 square inch. In a perpendicular magnetic recording medium having a non-magnetic intermediate layer and a magnetic recording layer sequentially formed, the non-magnetic intermediate layer is composed of a layer having a face-centered cubic structure and containing a non-magnetic elements excluding Pt. Specifically, the intermediate layer mainly contains at least one selected from the group of elements constituted of Al, Cu, Rh, Pd, Ag, Ir and Au, and is composed of a film having a face-centered cubic (f. c. c.) structure. The magnetic recording layer contains at least Co, Cr and Pt, and is composed of a film having a hexagonal close-packed (h. c. p.) structure. More preferably, a non-magnetic h. c. p. intermediate layer is provided between the non-magnetic intermediate layer and the magnetic recording layer.