A perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole layer exposed to an opposing surface opposite a recording medium, applying a perpendicular recording magnetic field to the recording medium; a return yoke layer disposed in the opposing surface opposite the recording medium above or below the main magnetic pole layer, the return yoke layer receiving the recording magnetic field returning thereto after passing through the recording medium; and a planarized nonmagnetic layer filling the surroundings of the return yoke layer to planarized the return yoke layer. Inclined or curved surfaces are formed at both sides in a track width direction of the return yoke layer, the inclined or curved surfaces gradually broadening the dimension of the return yoke layer in the track width direction as the inclined or curved surfaces extend from front end surfaces thereof exposed to the opposing surface opposite the recording medium in the height direction. A cohesive layer is disposed between the return yoke layer and the planarized nonmagnetic layer to increase the cohesive properties between the return yoke layer and the planarized nonmagnetic layer compared with the case in which the return yoke layer is directly connected to the planarized nonmagnetic layer.