A near-field optical head has a slider with first and second inclined surfaces that confront a magnetic recording medium during recording and reproduction of information. A recording element is formed on one of the first and second inclined surfaces and includes main and auxiliary magnetic poles stacked together with an insulation film interposed therebetween. An optical flux introducing device introduces an optical flux toward the first and second inclined surfaces of the slider, the optical flux having an optical axis inclined relative to the first and second inclined surfaces. A metal film is formed on the other of the first and second inclined surfaces of the slider for propagating the introduced optical flux along an interface between the first and second inclined surfaces to generate near-field light that is irradiated on the surface of the magnetic recording medium to effect recording and reproduction of information.