The pace seems a little slow to me, but maybe that's the way it's supposed to be. It's nice to see something a little more laid back once in a while. And it looks like they are introducing the major opposition with the couple that was spying on them. At least with Sakura's feathers it's unlikely that once she's gathered one someone else can steal it (as in Inuyasha).
And the whole quest to gather sacred/powerful objects is a pretty common theme in anime. Not only Inu Yasha, but also Otogozushi, Fuushugi Yugi, and Groove Adventure Rave just for starters.