  AKARI (formerly ASTRO-F) is an infrared space telescope designed for an
all-sky survey at 10-180 (mu)m, and deep pointed surveys of selected areas at
2-180 (mu)m. The deep pointed surveys with AKARI will significantly advance our
understanding of galaxy evolution, the structure formation of the Universe, the
nature of the buried AGNs, and the cosmic infrared background. Here we describe
the important characteristics of the AKARI mission: the orbit, and the attitude
control system, and investigate the optimum survey area based on the updated
pre-flight sensitivities of AKARI, taking into account the cirrus confusion
noise as well as the surface density of bright stars. The North Ecliptic Pole
(NEP) is concluded to be the best area for 2-26 (mu)m deep surveys, while the
low-cirrus noise regions around the South Ecliptic Pole (SEP) are worth
considering for 50-180 (mu)m pointed surveys to high sensitivities limited by
the galaxy confusion noise. Current observational plans of these pointed
surveys are described in detail. Comparing these surveys with the deep surveys
with the Spitzer Space Telescope, the AKARI deep surveys are particularly
unique in respect of their continuous wavelength coverage over the 2-26 (mu)m
range in broad-band deep imaging, and their slitless spectroscopy mode over the
same wavelength range.
