Because of this particular topographical feature, Tomonoura became known as Shiomachi no minato (a port for awaiting a favorable tide) from ancient times onward, as chanted in some poems composed by Tabito OTOMO and others, in Manyoshu (Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves).
このような地理的条件から大伴旅人などによる万葉集に詠まれるように、古代より潮待ちの港と知られていた。