Glover House

Nagasaki


A Unesco World Heritage site and Japan's oldest wooden Western-style building, this house, and the garden around it, are named for Thomas Glover (1838–1911), the Scottish merchant and industrialist whose arms-importing operations played an important part in the Meiji Restoration. He also built the first train line in Japan (between Tokyo and Yokohama), helped establish the country's first modern shipyard and was one of the founders of Kirin beer.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Nagasaki attractions

1. Glover Garden

0.03 MILES

Some two dozen former homes of the city's Meiji-period European residents and other important buildings have been reassembled in this beautifully…

3. Madame Butterfly Statue

0.05 MILES

Inside Glover Garden, this statue memorialises Japanese opera singer Tamaki Miura, who performed as Cio-Cio-san in Puccini's famous opera Madame Butterfly…

4. Walker House

0.05 MILES

Walker House in Glover Garden is filled with artefacts donated by the Glover and Walker families. Look for both Japanese and Western design touches.

5. Ōura Cathedral

0.06 MILES

This hilltop church, Japan's oldest (1864), is dedicated to the 26 Christians who were crucified in Nagasaki in 1597. The former seminary and bishop's…

6. Ringer House

0.08 MILES

A historic house in the hillside Glover Garden, this important cultural property has been in its original location since the 1860s. The first owner was a…

7. Mitsubishi No 2 Dock Building

0.11 MILES

This former dock house has been moved to the top of Glover Garden and offers great views, especially from the 2nd floor. Inside are displays about the…

8. Alt House

0.12 MILES

Built in 1865, this is the largest of the several historic houses in the hillside Glover Garden and one of the few still in its original location.