Memorials to the World War II atomic bomb tragedies dominate this downtown district. Visit pretty parks, tour a castle and shrines, and sample okonomiyaki pancakes.

Visit Hiroshima City Centre to experience a captivating combination of bomb-damaged relics, beautiful green spaces, glitzy skyscrapers and neon-lit entertainment zones. Pause for thought at monuments and museums commemorating the devastating bombings of August 1945. Relax in elegant gardens, feast on local delicacies and browse excellent art exhibitions.

The Gates of Peace lead to Hiroshima’s sobering Peace Memorial Park. Sights such as the Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound, Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims and Children’s Peace Monument honor the fallen soldiers and bystanders. Learn about the event and its aftermath via exhibits at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims. Across the Motoyasu River is the ruined shell of the Atomic Bomb Dome.

A visit to the reconstructed 16th-century Hiroshima Castle offers a journey revealing Japanese feudal history and Samurai traditions. Within the complex, the Shinto Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine is a popular venue for Japanese New Year celebrations. See more Shinto culture at the Shirakami Shrine.

Head to the Kamiyacho area for contemporary fashion and kimono stores, cocktail bars, izakaya pubs and sushi joints. Hiroshima Hondori Street is a great place to try savory okonomiyaki pancakes. Find brand-name outlets and lifestyle shops at Sunmall. Sake bars and karaoke rooms attract a lively crowd to Nagarekawa. Pursue masterpieces by regional artists at Hiroshima Prefectural Museum of Art.

Follow locals to Central Park, home to cherry blossom-shaded pathways, a children’s playground and outdoor swimming pool. Nearby is the Hiroshima Children’s Museum and Hiroshima Museum of Art. Fukuromachi Park is another notable location for admiring cherry blossoms. The bridges, ponds, teahouses and landscape gardens of Shukkeien are a delight for the senses.

Hiroshima City Centre is a quick tram ride or 30-minute walk from Hiroshima Station. Travel between the sights by tram and the Hiroshima Sightseeing Loop Bus, which stops at eight major attractions. Alternatively, get active by using the city’s paid bike-sharing system.