Abstract: Disclosed is an ink jet recording apparatus of the type wherein printing ink is discharged from an ink nozzle of an ink jet printing head toward recording paper wrapped around a drum. The ink jet recording apparatus comprises first and second plates placed to be spaced each other and an ink droplet guiding member one end of which is placed in contact with a lower portion of the front surface of the ink jet printing head, the second plate acting as a member for supporting the ink jet printing head. The first plate has an aperture so that the other end of the ink droplet guiding member reaches the second plate through the aperture of the first plate. With this arrangement, ink attached to the surface of the ink jet printing head can be removed by flowing down through the ink droplet guiding member and the second plate.