Glover Garden

Historic Site

Last updated September 07, 2026 Reviewed by the Japan Voyage editorial team

Part of Nagasaki

Prefecture

Nagasaki

Type

Historic Site

N/A

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About This Destination

A hillside open-air museum featuring Western-style residences from Japan's Meiji-era foreign settlement in Nagasaki.

Glover Garden is an open-air museum perched on a hillside overlooking Nagasaki Harbor, showcasing several Western-style houses from the late 19th century when Nagasaki was one of Japan's few ports open to foreign trade. The centerpiece is the Former Glover House, the oldest surviving Western-style building in Japan, built in 1863 for Scottish merchant Thomas Blake Glover. The garden offers panoramic views of the harbor and city, and features moving walkways to ease the hillside ascent. Glover's story is linked to the opera Madame Butterfly, and visitors can find heart-shaped stones hidden in the pavement that are said to bring luck in love.

Location

Prefecture: Nagasaki

Address: Nagasaki, Japan

Nearest Station: Oura Church

Best time to visit: Spring for flowers overlooking the harbor at the hillside former foreign residences

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Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Accepted

Food Options: Cafe inside the garden; restaurants in nearby Dutch Slope area

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Glover Garden?

Take the Nagasaki tram to the Oura Cathedral stop, then walk up the hill. Moving walkways and escalators help with the slope.

What is Glover Garden?

It is the hillside estate of Scottish merchant Thomas Glover and other 19th-century Western residents. The Glover House is Japan's oldest Western-style wooden building and offers harbour views over Nagasaki.

What are the entry fee and hours?

Admission is around ¥620 for adults, and it is open roughly 8:00–18:00, with later hours during seasonal night openings. Combine your visit with the adjacent Oura Cathedral.