Glover Garden and Dejima – Nagasaki, Japan (2015)

After visiting the atomic bomb site in Nagasaki, we took a bus ride to Dejima. This was an interesting stop which highlighted the closed nature of Japan’s society for much of their history. The small island was established to house Portuguese traders to help Japan keep a “foot in the door” of international trade and still keep foreigners segregated to avoid the spread of Christianity and perhaps other undesirable customs. According to Japan Visitor, the literal translation of Dejima is Exit Island.

 

Dejima, Japan

 
Schematic Drawing of Dejima, Japan
Close to where the tour buses park, there is a small schematic of Dejima


Body of water separating Dejima, Japan
This is the body of water on which the island was constructed. Dejima is pictured in the foreground on the right


A model replica of Dejima, Japan

A model replica of the village is on display to help visitors gain an overall understanding of the island’s geography.


A portal to Dejima, Japan
The small opening was used for moving cargo and allowing passengers to enter the cloistered island.


A garden inside Dejima, Japan
As elsewhere throughout Japan, gardens were represented.


Traditional clothing of Dejima, Japan
This man is wearing the traditional clothing of the day in Dejima

 

Glover Garden

 

As though Nagasaki and Dijema weren’t enough for one day, we had another very engaging attraction to visit. I was looking forward to this particular stop because I enjoy gardens and this one was somewhat special.

In contrast to the horror of the devastation of the atomic bomb hypercenter in Nagasaki, Glover Garden was a place of beauty and a celebration of nature.

Thomas Glover was a business-minded Scotsman who was instrumental in opening Nagasaki to foreign trade. He also is given credit, at least in part, for the development of the Mitsubishi steel works as well as the Kirin beer company. He has been dubbed “The Scottish Samurai” to underscore his contribution to the industrialization of Japan.

From the dock area, we took a short upward trek toward the hilltop garden.


The walk uphill to Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Near the crest of the hill, just outside of the garden, was Oura Catholic Church constructed around 1865. It is considered the oldest standing Christian church in Japan and was originally built for the foreign merchants who were moving to Nagasaki at the end of the era of seclusion to take advantage of trade.


Oura Catholic Church near Glover Garden, Nagasaki

The sides of the street leading up to the church and Glover Garden contained copious shops which catered to a wide variety of tourist and non-tourist interests. For those with a passion for Halloween or Dia de los Muertos


Pirate skull in a shop near Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Formal columned lamp posts support an ornamental metal sign signalling the entrance to the garden.



As one might expect, there were a number of well-groomed, smaller display gardens.


One of a number of smaller display gardens Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Also spectacular were the views from the top of the hill as the threatening clouds began to roll in.


Threatening clouds at Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Below is a photograph of a group of houses alongside the hill with the top of the Oura Church jutting up between them and the garden.


Houses on a hill near Glover Garden, Nagasaki

More houses could also be seen near the garden from the opposite side of the overlook.


Houses on a hill near Glover Garden, Nagasaki

A panoramic view of he harbor shows our ship and a number of buildings in the foreground near the port.


Panoramic view of the harbor below Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Formal gardens often have sectioned off areas sometimes referred to as “rooms” which create a mood of their own. This alcove with a variety of shrubs and small trees, pays homage to a more classical Japanese style.



There is an association of Glover Garden with the story of Madame Butterfly.

“Another claim to fame is that Glover’s Japanese wife Tsuru, whom he married in 1867, is said to have been the inspiration for “Madame Butterfly”, a story written by the American author John Luther Long, and later turned into the famous opera by Puccini and first performed at the Scala, Milan, in 1904. Tsuru had been obliged, at the age of 17, to divorce her first husband, a samurai, due to political differences between her family and his at the time of the overthrow of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and was thus separated from her baby daughter, Sen. However, there the resemblance between Tsuru and the fictional character ends, for although there may have been a suicide attempt, she lived to marry Thomas Glover, and to give birth to Hana and Tomisaburo (“Tommy” to his father). Tsuru’s nickname was “Och-san”, from the butterfly motif on her kimono, hence the name of the popular opera heroine.” Via Rampant Scotland

A statue of Puccini, with a small butterfly on his left shoulder, was placed in the garden to acknowledge this strong association.



Nearby, the likeness of diva Miura Tamaki as Madame Butterfly further underscores this relationship.


A statue of Madame Butterfly


A statue of Madame Butterfly at Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Water features provide a sedate aura to a garden and this wall of dripping water with cascading foliage achieved this goal.


Calming dripping water at Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Another feature, similar in style, added flower boxes in front.


A calming floral display with dripping water at Glover Garden, Nagasaki

It would not be a garden in Japan without a koi pond


A traditional koi pond at Glover Garden, Nagasaki

which even pleased the birds!


A bird enjoying the koi pond at Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Heading back to the ship, a stone planter with lantana attracted a real butterfly.


A real butterfly at Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Descending the steep street on the way to the pier, this courtyard beckoned with the decorative path and neatly trimmed garden.


Enticing courtyard near Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Upon approaching the pier, I noticed a parking area that had a bright yellow wall with a dragon statue across the top.


Dragon statue on parking area wall near Glover Garden, Nagasaki

This did not appear to be the friendly dragon from a Disney film.



We were physically and perhaps a bit emotionally tired from the exploits of the day and were glad to board the ship and have a respite before dinner.

 
Read more about our trip to Japan in 2015: