I sometimes see Chinese juniper trees at temples in Kamakura. There is a variety of types of juniper, but it is the Chinese Juniper that you see at temples in Kamakura, which is thick stem and tall.
Regarding the juniper tree, Kencho-ji is famous for it. I tried to see which temple has a juniper tree. According to the WEB page of Kamakura City, juniper trees of Kencho-ji, Engaku-ji, Jochi-ji, Jufuku-ji, Daikei-ji, Seifuku-ji, Jokomyo-ji, and Tsurugaoka-Hachiman-gu have been designated as a natural monument.
http://www.city.kamakura.kanagawa.jp/treasury/documents/15tennenkinenbut… (Japanese)
At Kencho-ji, some juniper trees are planted in front of Butsu-den. According to the WEB page of Kamakura City, it is eight trees. Since I don’t remember well, I will count it when I go next time. The largest tree is 13m in height, 6.5m around of stem, and 730 years old (estimated). It’s really big. It is said that Rankei Douryu who is the founder of Kencho-ji planted them by himself.
In Engaku-ji, there is a juniper tree at Hojo. The tree also has planted by Mugaku Sogen who is the founder of Engaku-ji. It may be more than 700 years old.
円覚寺 - 方丈にあるビャクシンの木
Jochi-ji has three juniper trees. I don’t remember well, I will confirm it when I next visit. A Picture below shows one of them, which was planted beside Honden, which is very tall.
ビャクシン ― 浄智寺
In Jufuku-ji, I remember a big juniper tree which planted in front of Butsuden.
寿福寺 ｰ ビャクシン
I have never been to Daikei-ji, and I missed the juniper tree in Seijuji-ji. I will try to see it next time.
The Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis) at Jokomyo-ji Temple grows on the cliffs behind the Kyakuden (main building), hanging down from the cliff. It is not open to the public, so you cannot get close to it, but you can see it a little from the gate behind the Kyakuden.
浄光明寺のビャクシン
鶴岡八幡宮のビャクシン
