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

A historic Western-style building with tall columns and a tiled roof stands amidst lush greenery and tropical plants in Glover Garden, all beneath a cloudy sky.

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

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.

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

  • Escalator entrance: Take the escalator up and enjoy a leisurely downhill stroll through the garden. It’s great for families or anyone who prefers a relaxed pace.
  • Nine preserved homes: The Glover House is original, while the other homes were carefully relocated from across Nagasaki to preserve their history.
  • Interiors with character: You’ll find furniture and décor that reveal the fascinating mix of Western and Japanese lifestyles from the late 1800s.
  • Stunning harbor views: From the garden’s vantage points, Nagasaki Bay stretches out in a panorama that’s hard to forget.

Even if history isn’t your main interest, the flowering gardens, open lawns, and endless photo opportunities make it a delightful 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 the garden, the Nagasaki Traditional Performing Arts Center brings the city’s famous Kunchi Festival to life every day.

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 (大浦天主堂下). From the stop, follow signs uphill past Oura Church (大浦天主堂); it’s a 5–10 minute walk to the entrance.

On Foot

It is a pleasant 20–25 minute walk from Dejima (出島) or Nagasaki Chinatown (新地中華街). 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 (長崎伝統芸能館) at the base.

Is Glover Garden Worth Visiting?

A large, white dragon sculpture with red markings and gold accents is displayed on stands in a room at Glover Garden, featuring a yellow-tiled wall and two lanterns. Its long body coils elegantly over a pebble-covered floor.

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 local cuisine, and the city’s profound history.

  • Museum of the 26 Martyrs – Discover the profound history of early Christianity in Japan at this museum and monument dedicated to the foreign missionaries and Japanese converts.
  • Hollander Slope – Wander down this picturesque, stone-paved street near the garden, lined with historical Western-style homes from the foreign settlement period.
  • Nakashima River Stone Bridges – Discover the picturesque historical stone bridges of the Nakashima River in the city center, a beautiful and enduring symbol of the city’s long history.
  • Nagasaki Castella Cake – Sample this fluffy sponge cake that is Nagasaki’s most famous souvenir, introduced by the Portuguese during the city’s earliest international trade.

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