While little need be said here of the horrors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in August 1945, much can be said of the incredible efforts this vibrant city has made to commemorate the many victims of the world's first nuclear attack, and perhaps even more importantly, the symbol of lasting peace Hiroshima has since become.Visited by more than a million people each year, many from overseas, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park (Hiroshima Heiwa Kinen Kōen) lies at the epicenter of the atomic blast in what was once a bustling part of the city and includes a number of important monuments, memorials, and museums relating to the events of that fateful day.

In addition to the grounds and gardens with their colorful cherry blossoms, the park's highlights include the Peace Memorial Museum with its numerous exhibits dealing with the issue of world peace, and the Memorial Cenotaph and the Flame of Peace, as well as the Atom Bomb Dome, the ruins of an administrative building that lay at the center of the explosion.

Top Attraction in Hiroshima

• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

A must-see when visiting Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is the Peace Memorial Museum with its many chilling displays focusing on the atomic bombing of the city, as well as numerous exhibits dealing with the issue of world peace. Comprised of two rather starkly designed modern buildings, the museum contains numerous graphic exhibits conveying the stark reality of the atomic bombing. The east building tells of Hiroshima before and after the bombing, while the west building concentrates on the events of that fateful August day.

One of the most popular of Hiroshima's tourist attractions, the Peace Memorial Museum attains more than a million visits a year from those wishing to learn about the city's destruction, the causes of the war, and its results.

• Hiroshima Castle

Also known as the Castle of Carp, Hiroshima Castle (Rijō) was built in 1593 as the residence of local nobleman Fukushima Masanori before passing into the possession of famous samurai Asano Nagaakira in 1619. The castle's lovely five-story main tower, fully reconstructed in 1958, contains an informative museum dealing with both the history of the city as well as the castle itself and also offers fine views over Hiroshima, the harbor, and the island of Miyakojima from its top floor.

Of interest within the castle grounds are three trees that famously survived the atomic blast - a willow, holly, and eucalyptus - as well as a concrete bunker used for radio broadcasts after the bombing.

• Hiroshima Museum of Art and Other Galleries

Consisting of eight galleries, the Hiroshima Museum of Art is just one of a number of world-class art galleries worth visiting. Highlights include a collection of paintings by European Masters such as Monet, Renoir, Degas, Maillol, and Picasso representing key movements such as Romanticism and Impressionism, along with leading Japanese artists such as Ryohei Koiso and Yuzo Saeki.

Be sure to also visit the Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum (Hiroshima Kenritsu Bijutsukan), opened in 1968 and focusing on the work of local artists, including collections of art related to the atomic bombing as well as a children's gallery. The Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art (Hiroshima-shi Gendai Bijutsukan) is also worthwhile with its many permanent and temporary exhibits.

• Hiroshima City Transportation Museum and Other Museums

In addition to its many fine museums dealing with war and peace, Hiroshima boasts numerous other such attractions. One of the most popular is the Hiroshima City Transportation Museum (Hiroshima-shi Kōtsū Kagakukan) with its collection of old trams and streetcars, including the famous "A-Bomb Tram" that survived the devastation of 1945. For kids, a visit to the Hiroshima Children's Museum (Hiroshima-shi Kodomo Bunka Kagakukan) will entertain for hours with its many hands-on, interactive science displays and exhibits, as well as an excellent Planetarium.

Also worth checking out are the Hiroshima City Ebayama Museum of Meteorology (Hiroshima-shi Ebayama Kishōkan), a fun place to explore weather and its effects, and the Hiroshima City Museum of History and Traditional Crafts with its displays related to local industry and agriculture.