The present invention provides an ink set for ink jet recording comprising: an ink which contains: water; a colorant; a water-soluble organic solvent; polyvalent metal ions; and compound (A) which is intrinsically capable of substantially inactivating the polyvalent metal ions, and a liquid composition is of a pH in which the polyvalent metal ions in the ink can be substantially activated. The pH of the ink is within a range in which compound (A) keeps the polyvalent metal ions substantially in an inactive state. The invention also provides an ink jet recording method which uses such an ink set.