Optical reproducing method for optical medium with aligned prepit portion

An optical recording method for an optical recording medium having grooves and lands alternately provided in a radial direction, information recording areas being formed in both of the grooves and the lands, and at least one prepit region where a groove is not formed, wherein, in the prepit region, first information marks are disposed on a virtual extension of a first boundary between one groove and one adjacent land and second information marks are disposed on a virtual extension of a second boundary between said one groove and an other adjacent land, the first and second information marks being disposed so as not to exist at opposing positions on both of the first and second boundaries of the one groove, the first information marks including synchronous information and address information, said second information marks including synchronous information and address information, the prepit region including a gap between the first and second information marks, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing the optical medium;
• and
• recording information on the optical medium by irradiating an optical spot thereon.