Kinkaku-ji is one of Kyoto’s leading temples. It was built at the end of the 14th century originally as a villa for Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the shogun at the time. After Yoshimitsu’s death, as indicated in his will, the building was converted into a temple of the Zen sect of Buddhism. The shining Kinkaku (“Golden Pavilion”) is a symbol of Kyoto. This temple has been burnt down many times in the flames of war and other conflagrations, and more recently by arson. However, it was restored in 1955, with major improvement work being done on it in 1987, so that all of the gold leaf has been replaced.