CHENNAI: A 24-year-old Japanese national went missing from a lodge in Keneth Lane , Egmore , leaving behind his luggage on Friday.

Yuta Kikuchi, 24 ,from Japan had checked into the lodge on Thursday afternoon, saying he would vacate the room the next day. Kikuchi, who went to Mahabalipuram on the same day, returned late at night. He left the next morning and has not returned.

Lodge manager Sekar told police that Kikuchi had paid 500 as advance and booked the room for one day. He said he would vacate the room on January 30.

When he didn’t turn up till Sunday, Sekar called police. A team of Egmore police visited the lodge and recorded the managers statement.

The lodge owners had taken a copy of the Japanese man’s passport as it was made mandatory for hotels and lodges to do so while foreign nationals check in. Housekeepers at the lodge told police that Kikuchi had inquired with them about the tourist spots in the city. He did not reveal the purpose of his visit.

Based on the lodge owner’s statement, the Egmore police alerted the Japanese consulate general’s office in Teynampet. Representatives from the office visited the lodge and checked Kikuchi’s baggage. “He did not leave behind any letter. And his phone was not reachable when the lodge manager tried to contact him,” said a policeman.

Police said the man could be staying with some friends. “If he doesn’t turn up till Monday, the consulate has agreed to get in touch with his relatives.

Police have sent across the man’s photograph taken from his passport, to some police stations in the city. They are also trying to trace his mobile phone based on tower location.