A thin film magnetic head has a magnetic pole major layer terminated at a position receding from a medium-opposed surface. An intermediate magnetic layer extends forward toward the medium-opposed surface from the surface of the magnetic pole major layer. The intermediate magnetic layer is terminated at a position receding from the medium-opposed surface. A tip magnetic layer extends to the medium-opposed surface from the surface of the intermediate magnetic layer so as to expose the front end at the medium-opposed surface. The layered structure serves to diminish variation in the sectional area of the path of the magnetic flux. Saturation of magnetic flux is sufficiently suppressed irrespective of the reduction in the sectional area. Even if the tip magnetic layer is reduced in lateral width, the tip magnetic layer allows a sufficient leakage of magnetic flux from the front end.