Prince Hisahito visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on August 7.

This is his first official trip to the western Japanese city where an atomic bomb was dropped 81 years ago.

He offered white chrysanthemums at the cenotaph for atomic bomb victims and bowed in prayer.

The prince visited Hiroshima privately in 2018 with his mother, Crown Princess Kiko, and paid his respects at the memorial, but this was his first time doing so on an official visit.

Hisahito is the nephew of Emperor Naruhito and second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne after his father, Crown Prince Fumihito of Akishino.

The 19-year-old prince then went to the Honkawa Elementary School Peace Museum, which preserves part of the former school building where about 400 children and others lost their lives near the hypocenter.

He listened to explanations while viewing exhibits, including a diorama recreating Hiroshima after the atomic bombing, and asked questions such as whether this is the elementary school that is closest to ground zero.

Hisahito is in Hiroshima to take part in Nippon Scout Jamboree, a Boy Scout gathering in the town of Jinsekikogen where he is scheduled to deliver a speech at the main assembly, marking his first address at an official event.