Since it has been famous from ancient times, examples can be found in literature, such as the poem by KOSHIKIBU no Naishi in the Hyakunin-isshu, "By Mt. Oe the road to Ikuno is long, I have not yet seen Amanohashidate"; and in the Tango no Kuni Fudoki it is written that Izanagi had a ladder to climb to heaven, but it fell over while he was sleeping and became Amanohashidate.
古くから名所として知られており、一例として百人一首の小式部内侍の歌「大江山いく野の道の遠ければまだふみもみず天橋立」が見られるほか、丹後国風土記には、イザナギが天に昇るためのはしごが、イザナギが寝ている間に倒れて天橋立になったとの記述がある。