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Perched on a hillside with views of Nagasaki Port, Glover Garden blends Western-style homes, Meiji-era history, and vibrant festival culture at the adjacent Traditional Performing Arts Center.

Two smiling children stand in front of the historic Glover Garden, with its Western-style building, lush garden, and pond. Other visitors explore the area, surrounded by greenery and scenic hills.

The History Behind Glover Garden

After Japan ended its isolationist sakoku policy in the mid-1800s, Nagasaki became one of the first ports open to foreign trade. Foreign residents settled in designated areas, and Minamiyamate (today’s Glover Garden) became home to several Western-style residences.

Who Was Thomas Blake Glover?

A dome-shaped roof in Glover Garden under renovation, surrounded by scaffolding and partially covered by a transparent tarp, with a central chimney and exposed wooden shingles.

The star attraction is the Glover House, built in 1863. It is the oldest Western-style wooden residence in Japan and once belonged to Scottish merchant Thomas Blake Glover. Glover helped establish Japan’s first shipyards, introduced modern coal mining, and played a role in founding what later became Kirin Brewery. He also supported young Japanese who studied abroad, laying the groundwork for Japan’s modernization.

The Glover House is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution. During our visit, the house was under restoration, but it has since reopened to the public.

What to Expect When Visiting Glover Garden

A scenic view of a harbor with a large cruise ship docked, surrounded by green hills, city buildings, and Glover Garden. People walk along a paved park pathway in the foreground, with benches and lush trees.

Walking through the hillside park felt like stepping back into Nagasaki’s international past.

  • Escalator entrance: Visitors ride up and stroll downhill through the garden, making it easy for families.
  • Nine preserved homes: While the Glover House is original, most others were relocated from around Nagasaki to protect them.
  • Interiors with character: Several homes are decorated with furniture that shows the blend of Western and Japanese lifestyles of the late 1800s.
  • Panoramic harbor views: The vantage points overlooking Nagasaki Bay are some of the best in the city.

Even if you’re not into history, the flowers, open lawns, and photo spots make it an enjoyable walk.

Nagasaki Traditional Performing Arts Center

A museum exhibit features a large, colorful traditional Japanese ship adorned with flags, lanterns, and decorations—reminiscent of vessels seen at Glover Garden. Visitors walk nearby, and a video screen glows on the wall in the background.

At the base of Glover Garden is the Nagasaki Traditional Performing Arts Center, which preserves the spirit of Nagasaki’s famous Kunchi Festival held every October.

Inside, we explored:

  • Festival floats and stage sets: Elaborate dragon floats and portable shrines.
  • Video displays: Performances showing the mix of Japanese, Chinese, and Dutch influences.
  • Bilingual exhibits: Panels in Japanese and English explaining the festival’s origins.

We left with a much better appreciation for how Nagasaki’s international identity is reflected in its culture.

How to Get to Glover Garden

Tram

From JR Nagasaki Station, walk to Nagasakiekimae tram stop. Ride Nagasaki Electric Tram Line 5 to Ouratenshudoshita. From the stop, follow signs uphill past Oura Church; it’s a 5–10 minute walk to the entrance.

On Foot

It’s 20–25 minute walk from Dejima or Nagasaki Chinatown. The final approach is uphill.

Taxi

About 10–15 minutes from Nagasaki Station depending on traffic. Ask to be dropped near Oura Church; the garden entrance is a short walk uphill.

Accessibility

Use the escalators and moving walkways inside the garden to start at the upper gate and walk downhill. The Glover Sky Road elevator also links the hillside to the top entrance.

Pro Tip: Enter at the upper gate via escalators, explore downhill toward the exit, then visit the Nagasaki Traditional Performing Arts Center at the base.

Is Glover Garden Worth Visiting?

A historic Glover Garden reception room with plush armchairs, a sofa, lace-covered tables, a wooden cabinet displaying ceramics, and gold curtains on tall windows. Informational plaques and a red carpet add to the vintage ambiance.

For our family, Glover Garden was one of the highlights of Nagasaki. It’s rare to find a place where history, architecture, and scenery come together so seamlessly. Pairing the garden with the Traditional Performing Arts Center and nearby Oura Church makes for a perfect half-day of exploring Nagasaki’s unique cross-cultural legacy.

More to Explore Nearby

Glover Garden, with its scenic views and historical Western-style mansions, perfectly preserves the atmosphere of Nagasaki’s foreign settlement, positioning you close to essential spiritual sites, unique historical landmarks, and the city’s dramatic views.

  • Oura Church – Visit one of Japan’s most historic and beautiful churches, the spiritual center of Nagasaki’s hillside district.
  • Hollander Slope – Wander down this picturesque, stone-paved street near the garden, lined with historical Western-style homes from the foreign settlement period.
  • Dejima – Step back in time on this reconstructed fan-shaped artificial island that served as Japan’s only point of contact with the West during the two centuries of national isolation.
  • Mt. Inasayama Observatory – Take a ropeway up the mountain to experience one of Japan’s most famous night views.

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