Glover Garden Night Illumination

Nagasaki is a city so soaked in the history of Japan and the West that you can hardly turn a corner without stepping into a significant space. The Glover Garden is one such place.

What is the Glover Garden?

In 1863, Thomas Blake Glover, a Scotsman, established his estate on top of Minami-Yamate hill. In 1898, the American John Luther Long wrote “Madame Butterfly”, a short story that an Italian composer later turned into an opera of the same name. The Glover Garden’s ambiance and history have led to it being nicknamed “the Madame Butterfly House”, and today it is Nagasaki’s oldest Western-style wooden house.

What happens?

During Lantern Night, around 300 lanterns and illuminations light up the garden, adding an extra dimension to the night view of the city and the lit-up Western-style houses.

The lanterns are lit from sunset, and from October 12 to December 31, 2026, the garden stays open until 8 p.m. (last entry 7:40 p.m.). On October 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31, it stays open even later, until 9:30 p.m. (last entry 9:10 p.m.), while on October 21 it closes at the usual 6 p.m. for a private booking. The garden opens at 8 a.m. daily, but the lights are best viewed after sunset. Admission is ¥1,300 for adults and ¥650 for elementary to high school students.