Dunno why you're fixated on the license thing. I can't recall the last time I needed to show a license at a hotel in the US. It may have happened before, but it's not exactly commonplace, so your comparison doesn't hold up.

For that matter, a few years ago in the UK I don't recall giving passport numbers to everyone. A few may have taken them, though. I wish it was more recent memory or I had paid more attention to it. (Now I would pay more attention and remember.)

I've also stayed with friends in the UK and the Netherlands and never registered with police as suggested a couple of posts above. Hardly a large sample, obviously. I believe this to be an unreasonable requirement.

I can't remember Japan; that was 10 years ago and only the once. I think the resort in the Dominican Republic wanted our passport numbers; I can't remember if we gave them to them. It was a group from work. We may have mildly protested by not putting them on the form, and they may have responded in laid-back Carribean fashion by not forcing us.