Thinking about it, I'm not sure I've ever stayed at a hotel in Britain or even Europe! Certainly my experience of Japanese hotels is that they resemble the States in that regard. But you're right, I don't really consider this way of living as hotel-like, being in a self-contained apartment - indeed building. Also, apparently the key rule was only recently instated - and my hostess, Miho, was unable to guess at the reason for it, as am I.