A recording medium of an embodiment includes a base material; a first color development layer that is located on the base material and absorbs light of a given wavelength to develop color; a second color development layer that is located closer to an incident side of the light than the first color development layer, transmits visible light and the light, and develops a color by heat; and a photothermal conversion layer that is located closer to an incident side of the light than the second color development layer intended to develop a color, transmits the visible light, and absorbs the light to photo-thermally convert the light into the heat.