Garnet phosphor Y3Al5O12:Ce3+ is prepared in the Y2O3-Al metal-CeO2 ternary system by the solid-state reaction method in the air. For the first time, metal Al is used as a source of aluminum for the reaction instead of traditional oxide Al2O3. It is shown that the chemical reaction can be realized at lower temperatures and without use of special reducing atmosphere. The structural and spectroscopic properties of the prepared powder phosphor are very close to those earlier reported for the Y3Al5O12:Ce3+ single crystal.