A perpendicular magnetic recording medium is disclosed that includes a substrate, a main recording layer, a reinforcing layer, and a continuous layer which are overlaid in this order on the substrate. The reinforcing layer is provided between the main recording layer and the continuous layer so as to improve the S/N ratio of the magnetic recording medium and reduce the write fringing effect. The reinforcing layer has a granular structure. The saturation magnetization Ms of the reinforcing layer is higher than the saturation magnetization of the main recording layer.