Glover Garden is located in Minamiyamate, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture, and is a well-known historical and cultural site. Originally established as the residential area for British merchants after Nagasaki opened to foreign trade, the garden has borne witness to Japan’s early modernization and international exchanges. Today, it is recognized as part of the “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution in Kyushu and Yamaguchi” and has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Within the garden, several 19th-century Western-style residences are preserved, showcasing a unique blend of European architectural influences and Japanese local characteristics.
Former Glover Residence
The Former Glover Residence is the most representative building in the garden and the oldest surviving wooden Western-style building in Japan. The main structure is a single-story wooden house measuring approximately 510.8 square meters, with an additional 129.2 square meters of annex buildings. Constructed in the 1860s, it served as the residence of Thomas Blake Glover, a Scottish merchant who made significant contributions to Japan’s modern industry and international trade. The location also overlooks Nagasaki Harbor, giving it strategic importance. After World War II, the residence was managed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and later by the U.S. occupation forces, before being transferred to Nagasaki City in 1957. In 1961, it was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
Former Ringer Residence (Younger Brother’s House)
This residence originally belonged to Frederick Ringer, a senior partner of the Glover Trading Company. With a floor area of about 385 square meters, it is also a single-story wooden house. After Ringer’s death, it was inherited by his descendants. Since the Ringer family also owned the adjacent Alt Residence, this house came to be called the “Former Ringer Residence (Younger Brother’s House)” for distinction. During World War II, ownership passed to the Kawaminami Shipbuilding Company. After the war, it was taken over by Nagasaki City, and in 1966 it was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
Former Alt Residence
The Former Alt Residence, built in the 1860s, was originally the home of the British merchant William J. Alt. The main building is a single-story wooden house covering 494.4 square meters, with additional brick annexes and warehouses. Alt sold the residence in 1871, and it was later used as a school before being purchased by the Ringer family in 1903, earning it the alternative name “Former Ringer Residence (Elder Brother’s House).” Like the Ringer Residence, it was taken over by a shipbuilding company during World War II. In 1970, it was returned to Nagasaki City, and in 1972 it was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
