A water base ink for ink jet recording contains a self-dispersible pigment; water; at least one glycol ether selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol butyl ether, dipropylene glycol propyl ether and triethylene glycol butyl ether; and methyl cellulose in an amount of 0.01% by weight to 0.5% by weight. The water base ink is capable of preventing the strike-through to the back surface of a recording paper, and further the water base ink is excellent in the printing density and drying property on the paper surface.