What other travelers are saying about Glover Garden
It’s hilly but there are some escalators. Get ready to climb some stairs. There’s ice cream in the park and crepes near the exit. Nice place to take photos and learn about the area. If paying by card, you can’t tap. Pay cash instead.
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.
The historic buildings are well-preserved, and the stories of Thomas Glover and the international community in Nagasaki add a lot of depth to the visit. I also liked the small details along the walking paths — sculptures, flowers, and little viewpoints that make you stop and take everything in.
📸 Photo spots: Harbor view, Glover House balcony, the heart-shaped stone
⏳ Tip: Take the elevator up to the top and walk your way down
🍃 Vibe: Calm, romantic, and full of history
Whether you love history, architecture, or just a good view, Glover Garden is a must-visit in Nagasaki.
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!
One of my favourite places to visit in Nagasaki and recommend to anyone. It is hilly but there are escalators to help you get to the top and you walk down. Historical content is well laid out and explained and easy to follow. You find something new every time you visit I was surprised to find an olive tree planted by Maria Callas!
I visited Glover Garden on an excruciatingly hot August weekend. Honestly, I wish I had gone in fall, winter, or spring—it was far too hot to stop and fully admire the beautiful scenery. Still, I managed to capture the stunning view of Nagasaki Harbor from Glover House, which made the visit worthwhile. Surprisingly, even though it was a weekend, the garden wasn’t very crowded, so it felt calm and easy to explore.
Summer isn’t the best time to visit if you can’t handle the heat and humidity. Cooler seasons would make strolling through the gardens far more enjoyable.
Admission is ¥620 for adults, and while there’s no free parking on-site, several paid parking lots are conveniently located nearby.
