An information recording system includes a case, a head provided inside the case, a recording tape that travels inside the case due to rotation of a pair of reels that are provided inside the case, with at least one of information writing or information reading performed to or from the recording tape by the head while the recording tape is in contact with the head, a drive mechanism that drives the head between an in-use position contacting the recording tape and a cleaning position separated from the in-use position, and a cleaning device that is provided inside the case, and that cleans the head when positioned in the cleaning position by rubbing against the head in a direction different from a direction of movement of the head from the in-use position to the cleaning position.