A near-field light generating element has an outer surface including a bottom surface that lies at an end closer to a top surface of a substrate, a waveguide facing surface that lies at an end farther from the top surface of the substrate and faces a waveguide, a front end face located in a medium facing surface, and a side surface that connects the bottom surface, the waveguide facing surface and the front end face to each other. The front end face includes a first side that lies at an end of the bottom surface, a tip that lies at an end farther from the top surface of the substrate and forms a near-field light generating part, a second side that connects an end of the first side to the tip, and a third side that connects the other end of the first side to the tip. The waveguide facing surface includes a width changing portion that has a width in a direction parallel to the bottom surface and the front end face, the width decreasing with decreasing distance to the front end face.