Originally Posted by RichardInSF

I can't speak for this particular ryokan but having made many trips to Japan over the years, I would say that (with the possible exception of a very few high end chain hotels) it is not just difficult to make a hotel reservation over the phone in English, it's virtually impossible. Try emailing them well in advance of Jan 26 and ask how you could go about doing this, you have a much better chance of being understood in a short written communication in English.