a magneto - optical recording medium , a method for recording and reproducing data using the medium and a magneto - optical recording apparatus are provided in which an optical head reads the recorded data while applying a magnetic field , and the ill effect of the leakage magnetic field from the neighboring tracks can be suppressed so as to obtain a correctly read signal . the magneto - optical recording medium includes a recording layer , an intermediate layer and a reproduction layer . the signal recorded in the recording layer is read using a light beam irradiated externally and a magnetic field applied externally . the signal recorded in the recording layer is transferred to the reproduction layer via the intermediate layer . marks are recorded so that each of leading and trailing edges of a recorded mark is substantially aligned with center portions of a recorded mark or a space of neighboring tracks , and the neighboring tracks have different polarities . when reproducing the marks , the signal including the recorded mark is read under the condition where the influences of the leakage magnetic fields from the neighboring tracks counterbalance each other .