Glover Garden sits atop Minami-Yamate Hill, offering stunning views over Nagasaki Harbor. It's situated on the southern slope of a mountain, allowing year-round enjoyment of its blooming flowers.
Visitors to Glover Garden can explore colorful gardens, cobbled walkways, and historic buildings, which include the preserved homes of 19th-century European traders and diplomats who lived in Nagasaki.
Yes, Glover Garden offers foreign language support to cater to international visitors. This may include pamphlets, signs, and possibly audio guides in multiple languages.
Glover Garden features a range of visitor facilities, including a cozy shared lounge with free WiFi and a free-use internet PC. Kimono rental services are also available for those wishing to enhance their visit experience.
Glover Garden offers various indoor experiences, including museum exhibits within the historic buildings. It's also advisable to check their rain policy or contact them directly for suggestions on inclement weather days.
Traveler reviews
Beautiful historical place. You will learn a lot of the impact of the Walker family had in Nagasaki and how it shaped the world today. There are many gardens to sit, sites to see, food and art gallery. The location is very accessible for those who need a wheelchair or other physical accommodations. Parking is across the street (paid). Overall had a great experience and it was good 2-3 hrs well
Spent.
We visited the garden in full Sakura bloom. The koi carp were very pretty and we purchased fish food for them there and it added to our experience. The sakura was particularly pleasing and we took many pictures. The garden was tranquil despite being slightly busy. We recommend this garden for anyone that wants to visit a beautiful garden with a spectacular view.
Visiting Former Glover House in Nagasaki was one of the highlights of my trip. The site is not just visually charming with its hillside views and beautifully preserved Western-style architecture, but also incredibly rich in history and meaning.
The house itself is the oldest surviving wooden Western-style building in Japan, originally built in 1863 for Scottish merchant Thomas Blake Glover. It stands as a real piece of history from the era when Japan was opening up to the world after centuries of isolation, and it offers a unique glimpse into the international influences that helped shape modern Japan.
During my visit, I really enjoyed learning about how Glover came to Nagasaki and the role he played in Japan’s transformation during the late Edo and early Meiji periods. His work in trade, shipbuilding, and industry had lasting impact, and walking through his former residence made those stories come alive in a way that was both educational and inspiring.
Beyond the main house, the garden and surrounding buildings preserved on the site paint a vivid picture of life in the international settlement of Nagasaki. The setting overlooking the harbor adds an extra layer of charm — it’s a photographer’s dream and a peaceful place to soak in history.
Overall, this spot is a must-visit if you’re in Nagasaki and interested in history, architecture, or simply want an enriching cultural experience. Highly recommended!
Very very very beautiful in such a way very westernize. I was lucky to go in a beautiful day with so many pictures. This place provides me an unforgettable memory. I love the sea combine with the beauty of the garden. It takes me 2 hours to visit. I hope to visit again
Went there with non Japanese speakers and it is not friendly for them, most of the explanations are only in Japanese, the quality if the information shared is also very unequal. The whole exhibited items, organisation, storyline would benefit from a renewal and a better curated selection.
Many of the buildings are under renovation and not visible…
I had very good memories of the park when visited 15years ago, this time it wasn’t up to my memory and expectations.