Best Times to Visit Glover Garden

About Glover Garden

Glover Garden is a expansive historical space located on a hill overlooking Nagasaki Harbor. The open air museum features an impressive collection of several western style houses and historic buildings. The historical buildings blend both Western and Japanese elements into their architecture.

Glover garden gets its name from Thomas Blake Glover a Scottish merchant in nineteenth century. Thomas Glover contributed to Japan’s modernization through his participation in shipbuilding, coal mining, and the tea trade. Other notable contributions include assisting the opening of the Osaka mint, and the establishment of the Japan Brewery Company a precursor to the Kirin Beer Company.

Several historical houses which include the Glover, Orto, and Ringer Houses are designated as important cultural properties. The other buildings of the Meiji period were relocated and restored to Glover Garden in the 1970s. The former Glover residence was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2015.

Upon entering the open air museum, a series of moving walkways take visitors to the top of the hill. From there, visitors can follow a recommended course at their own pace. The garden is well laid out and the recommended course takes you by all the key landmarks. Visitors can enter the historical buildings and explore rooms that have been redesigned to match what they would have looked like in the 1890s.

5 Key Features of Glover Garden

The Old Glover House

The Glover residence built in 1863 is the gardens most famous building and holds the distinction of being the oldest wooden Western style building in all of Japan. The Glover residence served as the families home for two generations before being sold to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works. Following the war, the former Glover residence was requisitioned by the occupying American forces and in 1950, was donated to the city of Nagasaki.

The Old Orto House

The Old Orto House built around 1865, is the former residence of William John Ort who made his fortune in tea exports to the outside world. The house was built by renowned carpenter Hidenoshin Koyama who is also known for building Oura Cathedral. The house changed hands several times before being acquired by Nagasaki City in 1970.

The Old Ringer House

The Old Ringer House built around 1868, is the former residence of Frederick Ringer and his family. Ringer worked in the Glover company’s tea business before embarking on his own. He was involved in various trading businesses and played a notable role in the development of Nagasaki. Some of his ventures included a newspaper business, hotels, and fishing. The house was passed down through his family before being sold to Nagasaki City in 1965.

The house contains a cutlery set from the Nagasaki Hotel which was built in 1897.

The Former Jiyutei Cafe

The Former Jiyutei was the first western style restaurant to be opened by Japanese chef Kusano Jokichi in 1863. Jokichi, studied western cooking while working under the Dutch Consul General in Dejima. The restaurant was one of only a few at the time and was known to host distinguished guests like western diplomats and local dignitaries. The restaurant closed following his death in 1887 and the building was repurposed as the public prosecutor’s office. The building was relocated to Glover Garden in 1974.

Nagasaki Museum of Traditional Performing Arts Center

Located just before the exit of Glover Garden is the Nagasaki Museum of Traditional Performing Arts Center. The center features displays and videos highlighting the Nagasaki Kunchi a traditional festival with a 400 year heritage. The festival’s main highlight is a series of coordinated dances that incorporate floats.

Other Features Include: the Old Walker House, Former Steel Memorial School, Former Mitsubishi 2nd Dock House, Former Nagasaki District Court Commissioner’s Building, Former Nagasaki Kosho Omote Gate Palace, Glover Cafe, and Statues of Tamaki Miura & Puccini.

Nearby Attractions in Nagasaki

Oura Catholic Church, Nagasaki Chinatown, Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, & Nagasaki Peace Park