Evolution of the ion temperature gradient parameter (ηi) has been studied in JT-60U reverse shear (RS) discharges experimentally. The ηi(r,t) behaviours for RS with and without internal transport barrier (ITB) discharges were observed, where the ITB appeared as steep gradients in the ion temperature profile, the electron density and temperature profiles. The relationship between the electron density scale length (Lne) and the ion temperature scale length (LTi) for different heating methods (NBI only and NB{} + {}ICRF) in RS discharges was compared with each other. It was observed that ηi is a key parameter to characterize ITB formation for the two cases. Kinetic stability for the toroidal drift-type modes (s<0 and ηi<ηicrit) was identified experimentally in the shear reversal plasma with ITB discharges.