People visit Osorezan in Aomori Prefecture's Shimokita Peninsula for a number of reasons. Devote believers come for a religious experience, others come to pray for their children that died too young, and fans of geography and geology to study the volcanic landscape. However, most visitors come as tourists. Advertised as on the three most sacred places in the northeastern region of Japan known as Tohoku--and as the Buddhist image of Hell--Osorezan leaves a lasting impression for all which make the long journey to its grounds.
It is not hard to imagine why the gray, barren, and rocky landscape dotted with Jizo statues and holes which vent sulfuric odors is said to be the entrance to Hell. On the other hand, the beautiful Lake Usori, adjacent green hills, and soothing hot springs also suggest a hidden paradise within this brutal world waiting to be discovered.
I can't comment much about the hotel as I stayed elsewhere.
While there is a great English pamphlet, that is about the only English there was. I went in the hot spring marked 男 (man/men) and opposite was 女 (woman/women). I must have missed the mixed one! haha