Glover Garden

Explore Glover Garden in Nagasaki

Located on Minami-Yamate Hill, Glover Garden offers a captivating look into Nagasaki’s

history from the late Edo to the Meiji period. The park features nine traditional

Western-style buildings with unique Japanese roof tiles, where foreign merchants once

lived. Among these, the Glover, Alt, and Ringer Residences are over 150 years old and

stand as invaluable historic treasures.

Beyond its rich history, the garden boasts a stunning panoramic view of Nagasaki Port,

with the iconic Mt. Inasa serving as a beautiful backdrop.

The Glover Residence: A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Built in 1863, the Glover Residence is Japan’s oldest wooden Western-style building

and was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.

It was the home of Thomas Glover, an enterprising Scotsman who arrived in Nagasaki

in 1859. He played a massive role in modernizing Japan by operating coal mines,

founding Japan’s first modern shipyard, supplying weapons to the Satsuma clan,

and helping establish the famous Kirin Brewery. Today, this beautiful historic house

offers a captivating glimpse into 19th-century Western culture overlooking Nagasaki Bay.

The Inspiration for Madame Butterfly

The Glover Residence is widely believed to be the setting for Puccini’s famous opera,

Madame Butterfly. Inside the park, you can see a life-size statue of Tamaki Miura, the

legendary Japanese opera singer who won international acclaim for her world-class

performance as Cho-Cho-San.