Two years have passed since the opening of the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen, and Nagasaki City is undergoing a once-in-a-century redevelopment. Stadiums and foreign-owned hotels are being built one after another around the station, and the city is evolving to accommodate the large number of tourists it is receiving. At the same time, the city's unique exotic streetscape is being faithfully preserved.

One of these is Hotel Indigo Nagasaki Glover Street, which opened in December 2024. The historic red brick Western-style building built in the 12s has been renovated and reborn as a charming and elegant hotel. The unique space will make you feel as if you have traveled back in time, and will transport you to memories of Nagasaki's past.

Listen to the whistles of Nagasaki Port and embark on a journey to experience the history and culture of Nagasaki

Looking back at the history of Nagasaki, it has long been a city that flourished as a gateway to foreign countries, including the dispatch of envoys to Tang China.
Nagasaki Port was opened to the public in 1571 when a Portuguese ship first arrived, and St. Francis Xavier began his missionary work there, marking the city's history as a Christian town. At the time, Nagasaki was known as the Little Rome of the East, and many churches, hospitals, and welfare facilities were built, and traces of this can still be seen today.
It is a city with a unique culture and history within Japan, having flourished as a gateway to the outside world even during the period of national isolation, and developing into a foreign settlement that contributed greatly to the modernization of Japan after the country opened up.

Nagasaki City has little flat land and buildings are densely concentrated in mountainous areas, so the lights shining in the hills around Nagasaki Port have been certified as one of the "New Three Great Night Views in the World," and the night view is one of the highlights along with the beautiful cityscape.

Furthermore, it is the only city in Japan with two World Heritage Sites.
The "Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution", which were registered as a World Heritage Site in 2015, flourished as a shipbuilding industry, and the "Giant Cantilever Crane" which is still in use 110 years later can be seen in the bay area. Hashima (Gunkanjima), which retains its history as a coal mining island, can also be reached on a 40-minute cruise from Nagasaki Port.

Furthermore, the "Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region", which was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2018, features beautiful townscapes where you can still see traces of the past, including the national treasure Oura Cathedral and the foreign settlement established at the end of the Edo period.
Listening to the sound of steam whistles ringing out from Nagasaki Port and church bells, reflecting on history and experiencing Nagasaki culture is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

A building steeped in Nagasaki history is transformed into a hotel

The Hotel Indigo Nagasaki Glover Street that we will introduce this time is a new hotel that has just opened in the Minamiyamate area, a cultural tourism hub that is home to the Former Glover House, an Important Cultural Property that is a component part of a World Heritage Site, and Oura Cathedral, a National Treasure.

This building was formerly the "Garden of Mary," which was built in 1898 according to a design by a French monk and became the base of a Jesuit monastery.
The building is currently designated as a traditional structure in the Nationally Designated Important Protection District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, and with its red brick exterior, arched windows, white shutters, and the approximately 10m-high former cathedral with a ribbed vault ceiling which allows for large stained glass windows, the hotel has retained its original form and is a one-of-a-kind hotel that has been preserved, restored and utilized as a historically valuable piece of architecture.

The hotel's entrance and exterior are all beautiful, and its elegant appearance makes it seem like a small European hotel; just seeing it makes your heart leap.

The hotel consists of a main building with three floors above ground and one below, and a north building with three floors above ground, with a total of 3 guest rooms in 1 types. In addition, there is a fitness gym in the basement of the main building, a lobby and lounge on the first floor, and a restaurant that utilizes the old cathedral, and the entire space is enveloped in a special feeling that transcends time and space. It is definitely worth a visit! That's all I can say.

The guest rooms are tastefully decorated with Japanese, Chinese, and Dutch designs, making them such stylish spaces that you'll want to use them as inspiration for your own home.
Another place we highly recommend is the beautiful stained glass restaurant that occupies an old cathedral. Enjoying a meal beneath the sunlight filtering in through the glittering stained glass is a tranquil experience that will soak into your soul.

Of course, the food is also superb. The restaurant's signature course offers dishes that reflect the local food culture, such as seasonal seafood, Nagasaki wagyu beef, and Nagasaki citrus fruits, allowing you to enjoy the rich ingredients of Nagasaki, a city surrounded by the sea.

This space truly embodies the concept of Hotel Indigo, a lifestyle boutique hotel that reflects the individuality and charm of its city, wherever it is located in the world.

Just a short walk from the hotel are famous sites such as Oura Cathedral and Glover Garden, and as you walk along the stone-paved slope, you can't help but think about the rich history of Nagasaki. You can enjoy your stay in this beautiful hotel while still feeling that way, which is the height of luxury.

Text by Yuko Taniguchi